Cobbossee Lake sees worst algae bloom in a decade

KENNEBEC JOURNAL • November 15, 2023

Cobbossee Lake recently experienced its worst algae bloom since 2013, and experts are attributing it to this summer’s heavy rainfall. Usually, algae are healthy for marine life. The microscopic organisms are an important part of a marine food chain, acting as a source of sustenance for smaller fish and other aquatic animals. Through photosynthesis, algae also release oxygen in the water. They are, in many ways, essential. That is, until an abundance of them forms a green layer on the water’s surface, blocking oxygen and sunlight.