More recently the surface of the lagoon has become gradually overgrown with aquatic macrophytes, primarily the non-native water-fern, Azolla filiculoides, and this has caused increased eutrophication, creating large areas of the lagoon where there is insufficient dissolved oxygen for fish to survive.
The primary reason was loss of habitat: drainage of wetlands and siltation resulted in higher concentrations of pollutants, causing (eutrophication) across Lake Tota.
One solo show Eutrophication took place at Pacific Northwest College of Art's Manuel Izquierdo Sculpture Gallery in April 2008 in a space originally designed by a young Brad Cloepfil, then later modified by faculty.