Different factors, including nutrient pollution can make blue-green algae to return to lakes and streams in Indiana.

Kim Ferraro, water and agriculture policy director with the Hoosier Environmental Council, shared information about algae by affirming that some forms of algae are beneficial, but not the blue-green one. It can cause reduce the level of oxygen in water for aquatic life and turn it toxic.

Ferraro affects the complete watershed. "Here in Indiana, there are always at least 20 some-odd lakes and water bodies that they find with really high levels of cyanobacteria, which is the same thing as blue-green algae", said Ferraro.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management provides weekly updates on blue-green algae in the state. Experts affirmed that algae growth is increased due to many factors including sunlight, warm water and agricultural runoff.

Blue-green algae is plaguing Lake Erie. Governor Mike Pence stated that the state has made a significant progress in cutting the amount of phosphorous entering the Lake Erie basin. But Ferraro thinks that more actions will be needed.

Ferraro affirmed that some of the mechanisms are not being followed and it is not the trick. Ferraro has given suggestions like limiting the amount of nutrients and fertilizers on farm fields and reducing the amount of manure from large feeding operations.

Blue-green algae produce a toxin called microcystin that can make people sick. It was responsible for last summer's contamination that led to forced shut down of Toledo's public drinking water system.