During this past week you may have seen an increase in small “specks” in Lake Sunapee and other surface waters as well. These specks are Gloeotrichia, a type of blue-green algae that reaches its maximum “growing” season in August and September.
This algae is seen world-wide. A few examples are Lake Baikal in Russia, lakes in Sweden and Germany, and more locally Great and Long Ponds in Maine, Lake Champlain in Vermont, and Lakes Winnesquam and Winnepesaukee. Its food source is phosphorus in the water body and/or in the sediment. In very dense amounts “Gloeo” is toxic which should be a special concern in Sunapee, as Lake Sunapee is the water source for the town of Sunapee.
Cutting edge research has been and is being done here in Lake Sunapee as well as in Sweden. Cayalen Carey, a Dartmouth graduate and former LSPA intern, has visited the Swedish team and is returning to the Sunapee area to continue her research. She is supported by Dartmouth faculty, as well as LSPA, and her work is being built upon by a widening group of researchers this year from Dartmouth. LSPA and its scientist collaborators are investigating the mechanisms of Gloeotrichia and monitoring multiple sites on the lake weekly for Gloeo concentrations. Hopefully this will lead to a better understanding and potential management options.
At this point, however, there are no known solutions to eradicating gloeotrichia. It is on the increase each summer and there is definite linkage between phosphorus and “Gloeo”. No phosphorus-no “Gloeo”. Fact: data shows that phosphorus has steadily increased over the last 20 years in Lake Sunapee. The sources for this phosphorus are the same sources that have been pointed out for years: sewage spills, lawn fertilizer, poorly maintained septic systems, road runoff, phosphate detergents and storm water sediment.
Gloeotrichia is now noticed by swimmers. As they question whether they should swim and we consider that degradation in water quality means million lost to the local economy, we must address known phosphorus sources. We must insure no sewage spills, avoid lawn fertilizers and detergents with phosphorus, insist on and regulate septic system maintenance, improve road design and maintenance and enforce land projects to minimize untreated runoff. Residents can help by maintaining their own runoff, grading their own properties, and clearing drains near their properties. We are all responsible and we are all the solution.
Date published on web site:
09-07-2007
|
