Flooding of Farmlands 2011 = Algal Blooms & Red Tide Possibilities 2011/2012

Okay, I've just been thinking about things and thought I would post this train of thought and see what you all think. If I have placed this in the wrong forum, MOD's feel free to move. If some one has posted a similar thread before mine, you may remove, but I didn't see anything in few quick searches.

I'm predicting massive algal blooms and possibly a 'historic' red-tide/dead zone event in the Gulf of Mexico this summer and/or possibly next year. Why do I think such?

Algal blooms may occur in freshwater as well as marine environments.

Science Daily - Algal Bloom

Yeah so?

Freshwater algal blooms are the result of an excess of nutrients, particularly phosphorus.[1] The excess of nutrients may originate from fertilizers that are applied to land for agricultural or recreational purposes, these nutrients can then enter watersheds through water runoff.[2] Excess carbon and nitrogen have also been suspected as causes.

Wikipedia - Algal Bloom (Bold emphasis by me).

So algae needs fertilizer?

Fertilizers are applied to promote plant growth; the main nutrients present in fertilizer are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (the 'macronutrients') and other nutrients ('micronutrients') are added in smaller amounts. Fertilizers are usually directly applied to soil, and can also be sprayed on leaves as a foliar feeding.

Wikipedia - Fertilizer (Bold emphasis by me).

"Yeah, we lost 135,000 acres of farm land here in Missouri," said Sikeston, Missouri, resident Patricia Mobely, who recently fled the drought and firestorms of Texas for what she thought would be a more peaceful life in the Midwest. "But how much more would we have lost if we hadn't done it?"

CNN Article (Bold emphasis by me).

That was because of the intentional levee breech... and there are a 'few' threads on this currently you might like to read if you haven't already.
Don't Be Distracted : The Real Problem = Historic Mississippi Flood/Intentional Levee Breach
So much water in the Mississippi river... tributaries water flow going BACKWARDS...
Concern along the New Madrid Fault due to flooding

...and probably a few others if you search

Some of the water will stay stagnant for prolonged periods of time in areas while a majority of this water still will travel back in to the Mississippi River, only now it is enriched with the nutrients of all the farm lands... Which will feed the algae, that will consume all oxygen, kill the fish and other life, and follow up with a good dose of bacteria!?

How did bacteria get into the lake or pond? There are a number of ways that bacteria can get into the water. Domesticated animals and wildlife feces contain millions of bacteria . Periods of significant rainfall will wash bacteria from the feces and those in the soil into ponds and lakes. Additional sources of contamination can come from sewage spills, animal waste, and from infected swimmers. A small amount of feces can quickly contaminate a recreational body of water.

Bacteria Hazards of Swimming in Freshwater Lakes and Ponds (Bold Emphasis by me).

Cow dung (usually combined with soiled bedding and urine) is often used as manure (agricultural fertilizer).

Wikipedia - Cow Dung (Bold emphasis by me).

How many lakes, streams, ponds does this breech effect? How many might it create? We know it will all eventually spill in to the Gulf of Mexico...

The Dead Zone

Hypoxic conditions arise when dissolved oxygen levels in the water fall below two milligrams per liter of water, too low to sustain animal life in the bottom strata of the ocean. The Dead Zone forms each spring as the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers empty into the Gulf, bringing nutrient rich waters that form a layer of fresh water above the existing salt water. It lasts until late August or September when it is broken up by hurricanes or tropical storms. The nutrients provide favorable conditions for excessive growth of algae that utilize the water’s oxygen supply for respiration and when decomposing.

The Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone (As if the GoM hasn't suffered enough)!

Lost the train of thought, and tried to put this together as quickly as possible so forgive any mistakes, but I'm sure you all get the point. What do you all think? Am I way out there, or may I be on to something? Possibilities are out there.

Forest Forager

This is an interesting point!

Is there any history of this above the Gulf? I am a little bit familiar with the problem.

It is one more item to put in the grid of things to watch for, certainly. Thank you for bringing it up!

As far as I know there are only remediation treatments, like clay. I hope something better comes along soon!