THE WEIRS TIMES, Thursday, September 16, 2010 ENJOYTHEWATER Get the most out of NH’s Lakes! LAKES from 34
derstand a little bit about this organism’s complex life cycle… During the winter, the
dormant form of Gloeo (scientifically referred to as the ‘akinete’) rests on the bottom of the lake. As the ice cover on the lake melts away in the spring, the amount of light that penetrates into the lake increases. The water tem- perature begins to warm and the akinetes begin to grow. They spend several weeks on the lake bot- tom absorbing nutrients, particularly phosphorus, from the sediment and developing into colonies of bunched cells bound together. The colonies actually acquire more nu- trients than they need, so they store the excess amount in their cellular structure to be used later in the summer. When a colony is fully
mature, it forms a gas vesicle (essentially a gas pocket) that allows it to float up towards the sur- face of the lake. Once in the upper part of the lake, with the aid of the sun- light and warmer water temperatures, the colony continues to grow and multiply. Colonies tend
to float in the first couple feet of water, and, as the wind blows, the currents concentrate the colonies in cove areas and along shorelines—resulting in what we call ‘blooms.’ Suddenly, one day, an area of the lake may look like it is covered with a yellow-green film, and it could be gone the next day, or even later that same day! At the end of the sum-
mer, as the sunl ight wanes and water tempera- ture cools, a Gloeo colony will produce akinetes and then it will die. Protected by the dead parent colony, the akinetes will fall down to the lake bottom where they will essentially ‘sleep’ until the warming water in spring awakes them and they begin to grow.
Cause For Concern? Gloeo typically contains
a low level of toxins that can cause skin irritations and rashes for swimmers. Ingesting a lot of it at one time can cause an upset stomach. While there isn’t a lot known yet about what the long-term liver health effects are of rou- tinely drinking water that contains Gloeo, the po- tential health hazard is a
reason to caution people about drinking lake wa- ter.
What Does Its Appear- ance Mean?
Gloeo blooms seem to
be occurring in more and more lakes throughout New England. While these blooms don’t necessarily indicate poor lake health, they are cause for alarm. A bloom indicates that the lake bottom contains enough nutrients to sup- port Gloeo’s reproductive cycle. Nutrients resting in the sediment on lake bot- toms come from natural processes, as well as from human activities such as: soil being washed into waterbodies from erod- ing roadway shoulders and construction sites; the washing of improp- erly or excessively applied fertilizers on the land- scape into waterbodies; and from the discharge of untreated waste from failing septic systems and treatment plants into the groundwater and surface waters. Unfortunately, if care isn’t taken to mini- mize the amount of phos- phorus flowing off of the landscape and into our lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams, the extent, fre-
quency, and severity of Gloeo blooms will likely increase—this may cause problems for human, plant and animal health.
You Can Help Prevent Blooms
Unfortunately, there is
no easy way to stop Gloeo blooms from occurring. But, whether you live along a shoreline or miles from the nearest water- body, you can help pre- vent Gloeo from becoming an increasing nuisance in your local lake. All you need to do is reduce the amount of phosphorus flowing off of your prop- erty. Here’s how: Refrain from fertilizing
your lawn. Unless your lawn in new, chances are that it doesn’t need fertil- izer. If you must fertilize, use lake water, if possible, since it already contains nutrients. If you purchase fertilizer, be sure to pur- chase the phosphate-free variety—look for the bag marked with a “0” for the center number in the N-P- K ratio, such as 10-0-10. Stabilize eroding camp
roads, driveways, and walkways by redirect- ing runoff water to veg- etated areas or areas cov- ered with a thick layer of
crushed stone. Replant bare soil areas
with native plants (ground covers and shrubs are best). Plant a vegetated buffer
strip. A vegetated buffer strip is an area of dense vegetation planted uphill of a waterbody and below houses, driveways, and other man-made features on the landscape that is intended to slow down and soak up water flowing off the landscape. Maintain your septic
system properly. Have your tank pumped at least every two to three years. Update or replace your system if you have added bedrooms, bathrooms and water-using appliances to your home.
What To Do If You See A Bloom
If you see something that resembles a Gloeo bloom, or any other unusual scum on the water, make sure that children and pets do not drink, wade, swim or make contact with the water. Call the New Hampshire Depart- ment of Environmental Services’ Cyanobacteria hotline at (603) 419-9229 or eamil Jody.Connors@ See LAKES on 39
35
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