Buffalo, New York – The NOLENS (Near shore and Offshore Lake Erie Nutrient Study) is going to be wrapping up the month, after a long year of rigorous research which was headed by Chris Pennuto. Chris Pennuto, a research scientist at the Buffalo State College Great Lakes Center, is a biology professor who has taken an interest in the state of Lake Erie.

The central part of the research was focused on the question “Why didn’t Lake Erie’s health improve as expected when the amount of phosphorus discharged into the lake decreased?”

Other members who were a part of the project were Lyubov Burlakova, a research sicentist associated with the Buffalo State College Great Lakes Center; Alexander Karatayev, who directs the center; and Alicia Perez-Fuentetaja, a research scientist and associate professor of biology.

Back in the 60’s, Lake Erie was all but considered defunct. Ironically, one of the most prominent factors which caused Lake Erie to be in this defunct status was it’s level of nutrients. Karatayev explained, “Nutrients are like calories. You need calories to live, but if you eat too many of them, you can get very, very sick.” One of the nutrients on that list is phosphorous.

For this reason, and a variety of other contributing factors, Lake Erie has huge algal mats still growing on the lake bottom. Pennuto and his team are slowly getting to the bottom of it, and hope to have a plan of action to present soon, to remedy the situation.