South lake looking north. 7/10/13 (Wolf. Oesterreich)
July 16, 2013.
On my visits to the park, this past month, I have observed a severe bloom of filamentous algae accumulating along the shores of the lake. Most of this is located along the west shorelines of both the north and south basins. It is growing rather rapidly and is covering up existing stands of sego pondweed, a beneficial plant that is growing there.
This algae growth is a sure sign of increasing nutrient levels in the lake, especially phosphorus. The causes of this increase are complex. Runoff from cropland and urban development, groundwater, and fecal deposition by wintering waterfowl. The constructed wetlands are supposed to help with removal of nutrients but it seems they are not functioning well.
EPA Office of Water is sponsoring a free webinar on July 25, noon to 1:30 on the dangers of algae growth to public health. You can register at this address:
http://water.epa.gov/learn/training/wacademy/webcasts_index.cfm.
If you are so inclined, call the Director of the Parks and Recreation, Keith Abraham, and voice you concern.
Erv Klaas
July 16, 2013.
On my visits to the park, this past month, I have observed a severe bloom of filamentous algae accumulating along the shores of the lake. Most of this is located along the west shorelines of both the north and south basins. It is growing rather rapidly and is covering up existing stands of sego pondweed, a beneficial plant that is growing there.
This algae growth is a sure sign of increasing nutrient levels in the lake, especially phosphorus. The causes of this increase are complex. Runoff from cropland and urban development, groundwater, and fecal deposition by wintering waterfowl. The constructed wetlands are supposed to help with removal of nutrients but it seems they are not functioning well.
EPA Office of Water is sponsoring a free webinar on July 25, noon to 1:30 on the dangers of algae growth to public health. You can register at this address:
http://water.epa.gov/learn/training/wacademy/webcasts_index.cfm.
If you are so inclined, call the Director of the Parks and Recreation, Keith Abraham, and voice you concern.
Erv Klaas
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