Lake Erie will be in the social media spotlight once again this week as part of an annual awareness campaign.
Thursday, August 28 marks the 9th annual We Are Lake Erie Day, inviting social media users to share their photos and love for Lake Erie as a call for action to protect the lake.
Western Lake Erie continues to be hit by algae blooms, which can be toxic, affecting drinking water and complex ecosystems.
Earlier this summer, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its 2025 Lake Erie algal bloom forecast, indicates a mild-moderate bloom, partly because less nutrient pollution is entering the lake. Officials with Environmental Defence say while that is definitely something worth celebrating, the progress could easily be washed away unless governments prioritize the health of Lake Erie by doing more to reduce nutrient pollution from agricultural and urban sources.
The rally, using the hashtag #WeAreLakeErie was started in 2017 by three Canadian environmental groups, Environmental Defence Canada, Canadian Freshwater Alliance, and Freshwater Future Canada.