Can We Inhibit the HABs this Season?
Ed Wagner, Chairman, Owasco Lake Water Quality Management Council
Ken Kudla, President, Owasco Watershed Lake Association
In just a few
months, Owasco Lake will likely experience yet another outbreak of Harmful
Algal Blooms (HABs). Whether you live on the shore of the Lake, drive by it,
like to swim in it, picnic by it, boat on it, drink its water, or just live in
the region, our lives, our jobs, and our economic well-being are directly
influenced by the health or ill-health of this Finger Lake.
Sometimes called
blue-green algae, HABs are not algae at all, but instead are a common form of
bacteria that come into dominance because our Lake has too much phosphorus and
nitrogen. These bacteria during the hot, calm days of August into October
proliferate, turning our Lake into an ugly, keep-away green. Even worse, as the
bacteria die they often release poisons that can have
very serious health effects. Scientists around the world are working hard to
come up with solutions. About the only fix now known is to greatly reduce the
phosphorus and nitrogen getting into the lake.
However, the
bacteria have a weakness. They like calm, clear, warm water. There is an early
body of research that suggests that perhaps we can inhibit their normal pattern
by mixing up the water column; i.e., make it more turbulent and less calm.
This year the
Owasco Lake Water Quality Management Council in association with OWLA, the
Finger Lakes Institute and the NYS DEC are working together to identify,
research and test a number of possible technologies directed a minimizing HAB
outbreaks.
Current plans
are to secure a quantity of two types of water mixers. One type will be for
lakeshore sites that have a depth of 15 to 20 feet within 75 feet of the shore
line. The other type is for more shallow, near shore locations. This type
typically mounts under a dock. It is the same mixer as is used to prevent ice
from forming around a dock or boat lift.
The mixer for
deeper water installation is called an Airmax PS-20 and costs about $2500. The
under dock mounted shallow water mixer is a Kasco submersible mixer and costs
approximately $1,000.
We are looking
for property owners who live on the east side of the lake who are willing to
try these mixing devices. What is needed from the property owners is:
·
An outdoor,
grounded electrical outlet must be near your shore.
·
You will install
and operate the device
·
Monitor the
device, pay for the electricity used, and support the research by taking daily
photos, upload the photos to a secure shared drive and perhaps take a number of
water samples throughout the few months of the project
·
Remove and store
the device at the end of the HAB season
At the end of
the year all research will be evaluated and the results shared with the
participating home owners. Any property owners who have benefited from the
technology will be given the choice to:
·
Reimburse OWLA
for 25% of the mixer's cost and then they will keep the technology.
·
Owners who did
not benefit from the technology will pay nothing and simply return the
technology to OWLA.
This project is
first come, first served while the quantity of mixers we buy lasts.
If you live on
the east shore of Owasco Lake and wish to participate in this research project
please attend the June 6th OWLA Meeting at Springside Inn beginning
at 7:00 PM. Any questions will be answered then and participating home owners
will be identified.
Thank you,
Ed Wagner
Chairman, Owasco Lake Water Quality Management Council
Ken Kudla
President, Owasco Watershed Lake Association
June 1,
2018
