Monday April 27, 2026
The Mercury News —
By some measures, Clear Lake is thriving.
It holds more fish per acre than any other lake in the United States and supports a vast population of birds and other wildlife. But, by another measure that has defined the lake for decades, Clear Lake is deeply out of balance.
Every year, harmful algal blooms take over the lake’s surface, producing toxins that can make people and animals who use the lake sick. The blooms shut down recreational activities and strain local tourism.
But now, a group of scientists believe they have found a way to restore Clear Lake’s water quality by tackling phosphorus, one of the biggest drivers of the harmful algal blooms.
On the morning of Thursday, April 16, scientists, public officials and members of the public gathered at the lake’s edge in Lucerne and boarded boats to head toward a 400-acre stretch of water where the blooms proliferate.