Credit NOAA, Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory Researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) are forecasting the cyanobacterial bloom in western Lake Erie is likely to be smaller than average this year. But, it’s early in the season and things could change. At this point, less precipitation in the Maumee River watershed has reduced the amount of nutrients that are washed into the western basin of Lake Erie. Those nutrients encourage cyanobacterial blooms. A series of storms could change that. In June, NOAA expects a return to normal rainfall. Above average temperatures could also make a difference.