What’s going on with all the “algae”?

Yes, we’re used to seeing small areas of vegetative growth in our lake. Sporadic blooms of green algae and duckweed along the banks are common during the summer. But this year has been dramatically different. We’re seeing widespread growth that at times has nearly covered the western end of the lake.

Why is this happening? It’s a bit of a perfect storm, which we’ll get to shortly. But while algae is what you mostly see when looking across the lake, the situation is more complicated. And—spoiler alert—it’s more a problem of invasive plants under the algae.

What’s being done?

To address this problem of invasive overgrowth, the LLPOA board has created a new “Health of the Lake Committee,” consisting of Jon Arras, Juli Schaefer, Teri Collins, and Danny Petrow. They’ve been researching the issue, talking to experts, and discussing various options.

In the short term: Lake cleanup days

The most effective way of eliminating the plants without the use of chemicals is to physically remove them. Some of our neighbors have pitched in and are tackling this process on their own. In addition, we recently had three community workdays attended by a large turnout of people—from both the Lake Lucille and neighboring Aquatic District communities. This allowed us to remove hundreds of baskets of weeds and algae, gradually helping to restore the lake to its previous appearance.

Our lake cleanup days drew concerned neighbors from both the Lake Lucille and Aquatic District communities. But there’s more to do.

In the long term: Hydro-raking and other possibilities.

The HOTL committee, the LLPOA board, and concerned neighbors from the Aquatic District are exploring several options for fighting this problem going forward. This includes hydro-raking (explained below) and other mechanical procedures, using herbicides, planting native plants along the shoreline, and even stocking the lake with sterile carp. Other than hydro-raking, no other plans have been firmed up yet. And the earliest we’ll be able to take any of these actions is next spring. Obviously, more to come, and all ideas are welcome!

What is hydro-raking? Our lake-restoration contract with Solitude Lake Management is still in effect, and we’re hoping to use the last of the funds to have them do hydro-raking of the lake as soon as possible. This process uses a machine to churn up and collect the vegetative debris, organic sediment, and invasive rooted plants from the bottom of the lake. This process also helps improve the lake’s depth.

Solitude applied to the NY Department of Environmental Conservation for a hydro-raking permit in June, but we likely won’t hear about its approval until spring. Unfortunately, we’ve also been told by a close contact at NYS FOLA (the New York State Federation of Lake Associations) that permits for this can be hard to get now. Fingers crossed.

The perfect storm.

What we’re seeing in our lake is the result of a combination of environmental influences that have made our lake a prime place for unwanted plant growth.

High levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. Our lake has long been classified as eutrophic, which means it has a high level of nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus. This encourages plant growth, including algae and invasive species. And it’s one of the main reasons for the brownish tint, or turbidity, we’re used to seeing in the water. This is also why it’s so important not to add to the eutrophication by using fertilizers and other yard-care chemicals that contain nitrogen and phosphorus.

Warmer than normal temperatures. This summer has been notably warmer than usual, thanks in part to a couple heat domes that we’ve endured. The average high temperature in July—85 degrees—was four degrees higher than the historical average of 81 degrees. Warmer weather also encourages plant and algae growth.

The carp issue. Until recently, we’ve also had the problem of too many carp in the lake, which severely limited the growth of healthy aquatic plants and further encouraged algae growth. As part of our restoration efforts, Solitude culled most of the carp over the past few years in an initial effort to rebalance the lake. This has allowed more plant growth in the lake, but, unfortunately, several invasive species (see below) have now begun to proliferate, leading to the current condition. (This is a lesson in how important it is to maintain a balanced approach to lake care, as isolated actions can tip the balance in a different direction.)

Invasive plants. The HOTL committee has identified several invasive plants that are taking over the lake, including Curly leaf pondweed and Eurasian watermilfoil, and possibly Lake Western Watershed, Canadian Watershed, and Hornwort. Julie has reached out to the Cornell Cooperative Extension for confirmation of these identifications.

According to “Diet for a Small Lake,” a book published by NYSFOLA, curly leaf pondweed likes to grow in warm, shallow water. And during the high heat of late spring, it found the perfect environment in the shallower western end of our lake. It has since been slowly migrating eastward. According to NYSFOLA, this pondweed has historically died back by late July, but the warming trend associated with global climate change has extended its growing season.

Eurasian watermilfoil, according to the book, is the most invasive, submergent aquatic plant in New York State, and is basically impossible to truly eradicate once established in lakes. It grows in a variety of water depths and conditions, and it’s commonly found in sandy to mucky soils in depths from 3 to 12 feet. Eurasian watermilfoil forms dense canopies that spread laterally across the surface of a lake, and it propagates primarily by fragmentation in pieces as small as one inch.

A domino effect. Once these invasive plants reached the surface, the “bubbly” green algae we normally see along the banks began collecting on them, increasing the matted look of the vegetation and adding to the overall ugly appearance of the lake. Green algae is not toxic, but it’s very unsightly.

Not to be confused… Mingling with the algae along the banks are carpets of duckweed, which is a common lake plant that grows on the water surface and is easily identified by its very small leaves. Because of its “green mat” appearance, duckweed is often mistaken for algae growth. But, in fact, it’s a common water plant that’s good for our lake because it helps absorb the nutrients that algae thrives on.
—Rik Paul

Curly leafed pondweed is an invasive plant that roots at the bottom of the lake and grows to the top. It’s hard to eradicate.

Green algae is a non-toxic, although unsightly, growth that’s common to our lake in small blooms.

Duck weed is often mistaken for algae, but it’s a common leafy water plant that’s good for our lake.

Important note:

According to NYSFOLA, none of these plants are toxic on their own, which is why we haven’t had to close the lake to swimmers. But keep in mind that a toxic blue-green algae bloom can form at any time, and we’ve sometimes seen this happen in past years during the late summer. So, avoid coming into contact with the plant growth. If you do, wash yourself thoroughly. And don’t let your dogs contact it. Dogs are particularly vulnerable because algae can stick to their fur and cause skin problems.

FYI, toxic algae blooms often look like pea soap, spilled paint, or green scum or mats. This webpage from the Utah Department of Environmental Quality shows examples. Another good source for identifying them is this video from the NYS DEC. If you see these conditions, don’t go near them, and let the LLPOA board know.