The green convergence: United States lakes are collectively moving toward a eutrophic state

Authors: FERNANDEZ-FIGUEROA, EDNA - Auburn University; ROGERS, STEPHANIE - Auburn University; WATERS, MATTHEW - Auburn University; WILSON, ALAN - Auburn University

Submitted to: Harmful Algae
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/2025
Publication Date: 9/4/2024
Citation: Fernandez-Figueroa, E.G., Rogers, S.R., Waters, M.N., Wilson, A.E. 2024. The green convergence: United States lakes are collectively moving toward a eutrophic state. Harmful Algae. 139: Article 102721. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2024.102721.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hal.2024.102721

Interpretive Summary: Nutrient enrichment and climate change promote algal blooms, leading to many lakes being characterized as eutrophic (i.e., green) worldwide. We examined recent eutrophication trends of freshwater lakes at a national scale by collating 32 years (1990–2021) of growing season (July-September) in situ chlorophyll-a, nutrient, transparency, and climate data for 1,082 lakes across 32 freshwater ecoregions in the United States. Based on chlorophyll-a, 78.2 % (427/546) of lakes initially exhibited eutrophic conditions and have remained eutrophic. Moreover, non-eutrophic lakes converged toward a eutrophic state, with oligotrophic (i.e., clear) or mesotrophic (i.e., moderately clear) lakes becoming greener, and hypereutrophic (i.e., very green) becoming less green. Optimized Hot Spot Analysis suggests lakes in the Appalachian Piedmont and Apalachicola freshwater ecoregions eutrophied more rapidly than other locations. Results suggest nutrient management targeting eutrophic lakes has hindered further degradation, but poor preventative management of clear lakes has led to their eutrophication.

Technical Abstract: Nutrient enrichment and climate change promote algal blooms, leading to many lakes being characterized as eutrophic (i.e., green) worldwide. We examined recent eutrophication trends of freshwater lakes at a national scale by collating 32 years (1990–2021) of growing season (July-September) in situ chlorophyll-a, nutrient, transparency, and climate data for 1,082 lakes across 32 freshwater ecoregions in the United States. Based on chlorophyll-a, 78.2 % (427/546) of lakes initially exhibited eutrophic conditions and have remained eutrophic. Moreover, non-eutrophic lakes converged toward a eutrophic state, with oligotrophic (i.e., clear) or mesotrophic (i.e., moderately clear) lakes becoming greener, and hypereutrophic (i.e., very green) becoming less green. Optimized Hot Spot Analysis suggests lakes in the Appalachian Piedmont and Apalachicola freshwater ecoregions eutrophied more rapidly than other locations. Results suggest nutrient management targeting eutrophic lakes has hindered further degradation, but poor preventative management of clear lakes has led to their eutrophication.