Algal Blooms 101 – Part 1
by David Ernes – Lake Management Committee
This is the first in a series or articles to provide some background information surrounding Algal Blooms. This is not meant to be a comprehensive overview, but is intended to give the reader some basic information on this important lake management subject.
Algae are a very broad series of organisms, which use light for most of their food, like any other plant. One class, green algae, is a significant food source for the marine food chain and is very beneficial to any lake. Algal blooms, however, are more often associated with organisms known as “blue-green algae”. Surprisingly, they are not really algae, but instead are actually bacteria that also use light for their energy. One of the terms you may have seen is cyanobacteria, where the cyano refers to “cyan” or the color blue. Cyanobacteria can be the typical blue-green color, as well as reddish purple (called “red tide”), or even brown.
So, where did cyanobacteria come from? They are actually one of the oldest living organisms. They have been around for 3.5 billion years, and are often credited with changing the earth’s atmosphere to the oxygen mixture that supports life. In fact, in a recent article, some German scientists have suggested that cyanobacteria could be used for the same purpose on Mars! Cyanobacteria are found everywhere, even in the Antarctic.
So, if they have been around for so long, why are they such a problem today? Basically, people are the cause. In addition to light, the other main food source for cyanobacteria is nutrients in the water, primarily phosphorous and nitrogen. Man’s activities from certain farming practices, the reduction in natural filtration in forests by building structures and roads, and poor handling of sewage treatment effluents have dramatically increased the level of nutrients in bodies of water. So, with a greater food supply, they tend to multiply, forming blooms. This is one of the main reasons that the Lake Management Committee (LMC) has been encouraging best practices which can reduce the inflow of nutrients into our lake. Less food; fewer blooms.
If you have specific questions about this article, or suggestions for future articles, please contact a member of the LMC.
BE LAKE RESPONSIBLE
Lake Lowering and Erosion Control
By Tim Langer – Lake Management Committee
As the lake is now lowered, the Rome Rock Association (RRA) Lake Management Committee would like to remind our residents that it’s a great time to inspect our properties. Detecting areas at high risk for erosion and taking action protects our lake and our community. Please look for overflow points or holes in erosion control structures and seek remedies to reinforce them. This could be your sea wall, “rip-rap” (rock), and/or vegetation. Reinforcement of shoreline barriers, confirming clear drainage channels, and checking dock supports and surrounding areas safeguards us all.
If you suspect you may have a problem or have identified a problem, contact the Village office or the RRA to inquire about necessary permits and any approved vendors. There are contractors to assist and some do it yourself techniques. With proper attention, erosion of our shoreline can be controlled. Be Lake Responsible. Love our Lake.
Lakes, Blooms and Politics
by David Ernes – Lake Sediment/Nutrient Control Subcommittee
Recently, a number of interesting political announcements have appeared in the news about blooms and grants awarded to fund the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative totaling over 8.4 million dollars to three states, including Ohio. These grants are to be used to study ways to reduce the nutrients going into the lakes, increase monitoring of blooms, and create a database for research and information to find corrective actions to eliminate the public health crisis. Senator Rob Portman has been a strong advocate for this research applauding the success of the grant.
In a few weeks, most of you will be going to the polls and depending on if you are a permanent resident, weekender, or lot owner, the list of candidates may differ. The recent bloom that shut down the water supply for Toledo for several days continues to make national headlines. Our sub-committee has published an abundance of good science based information regarding blooms so that we can all make informed decisions. The link below is to a recent article in the Plain Dealer that offers the views of a number of candidates on lake water quality, blooms, fertilizer, etc. They comment on farming practices, fertilizer selections, and even testing. When you cast your ballot, we ask that you check the candidate’s opinions on these issues, to ensure that grant money goes to good use.
And if they don’t do what they say – write them a letter!
BE LAKE RESPONSIBLE – VOTE
Protecting our Beautiful Lake & Community
by Tim Langer – Lake Sediment/Nutrient Control Subcommittee Chairman
You may have noticed the new “Love the Lake” logo that marks the articles and programs being developed by residents volunteering for the Sediment and Nutrient Control Subcommittee of the Lake Management Committee. You can see it included in this article. Our mission is to connect our community by 1) raising awareness about important issues, 2) offering good science based information, and 3) offering some easy ways to improve our community.
It is our hope that this logo reminds residents to BE LAKE RESPONSIBLE!
When weeds and algae in the lake become overgrown, we all look for help to find solutions. Our lake is not a public and natural resource of the State of Ohio, so it is up to us, the owners and residents of Roaming Shores to be responsible. We are the primary stewards of our great natural resource, Lake Roaming Rock. Please help us work together to protect our water for our enjoyment and that of future generations.
Given our private ownership and access to Lake Roaming Rock, our goal is to initiate programs to help residents actively manage their properties and proactively seek new and innovative solutions. Once we, the residents and owners, do all that we can to sustain these programs, outside funding, like government grants, can be more readily obtained to help us limit sediment and nutrients from our watershed.
When you see “Love the Lake” articles and programs, please participate. It is our hope that if we all contribute to the health of Lake Roaming Rock, our community will thrive. Please contact me (TimattheShores@gmail.com) if you would like to get involved, contribute or suggest an article, help with a program or have any questions. It is important that we all be responsible to help keep our lake and community beautiful.
I love our lake and I bet you do too.
Washing Your Boat – An alternative approach
By Tim Langer – Lake Sediment/Nutrient Control Subcommittee Chairman
It is that time of year when we are all trying to get our boats cleaned and ready for winter. It seems like a rite of passage for winter to arrive, but a time to get our boats ready for storage. Did you know, soaps and detergents might add nutrients that promote algae blooms? They also destroy the external mucus layers that protect the fish from bacteria and parasites; plus they can cause severe damage to the gills. So, before you grab your old standby cleaner please consider the following;
- Rinse your boat frequently with fresh water to reduce the need for soaps and cleansers, help stop marine growth, and extend the life of the protective coating. Spot clean if needed.
- Use environmentally friendly cleaning products such as baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice, and borax when necessary. Use all cleaning products sparingly to minimize the amount discharged into the water.
- Use good old-fashion elbow grease.
- Use phosphate-free, biodegradable cleaners such as “Simple Green”. If you use detergents, use them sparingly.
- Avoid cleaning your boat dockside or in your driveway if you have a grate drain which goes to the lake. Wash your boat in an area that allows for infiltration of wash water, such as gravel or grass without a drain directly to the lake.
- Look for the words “phosphate-free and “biodegradable” on the cleaning products used.
- Never dispose of cleaning products by dumping near the lake.
With each of us taking a moment to consider our cleaning methods and products used, we each can BE LAKE RESPONSIBLE.
For more information or to print out a purchasing guide that contains what to look for on labels, toxic ingredients to avoid and how to clean with less please see the following link,
http://www.dbw.ca.gov/Environmental/CleanGreen/LessToxic.aspx
Fall in the Shores is a beautiful time of the year
Residential Stewardship
By: Pam Hoover, Lake Management Sediment and Nutrient Control Subcommittee
Congratulations on owning property in one of the loveliest communities in North East Ohio! Whether you are a full time or seasonal resident, living by the water provides a special opportunity to participate in water-related recreation, such as boating, swimming or fishing; to observe wildlife in its natural habitat; or simply enjoy the beauty of watching a sunset over the lake and experience the serenity and sense of well-being experienced around water and nature.
When you own property in Roaming Shores, you do have certain riparian (near the water) rights and privileges. Along with those rights also comes the responsibility to protect, improve, and enhance the quality of the water for your enjoyment and that of future generations to come, keeping in mind that the water itself is a public resource for everyone to enjoy. That’s called stewardship: the individual responsibility to manage one’s life and property with regard for the rights of others. The lake is a living ecosystem and part of the larger ecosystem of all living plants and animals to which we also belong.
ALGAL BLOOMS FEED ON KEY NUTRIENTS!
One of the objectives of the Lake Management Sediment and Nutrient Control Committee is to provide ongoing education for residents and to provide you with basic information on good lake stewardship, which if practiced by you and collectively by others around the lake and in the watershed, will help to keep the lake healthy to protect your investment in Roaming Shores property (healthy waters=higher property values), your enjoyment of the lake, and also preserve its ecological integrity.
As you may know, phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) are key nutrients needed for aquatic plant and algae growth. Excessive P and N that reaches the lake fuels the overgrowth of aquatic plants and algae. Excessive plant and algae growth decreases water clarity, decreases lake health, interferes with the recreational use of the lake, and diminishes oxygen for fish in the water, generally causing declining water quality. Here are steps you can take this fall to reduce the amount of P and N getting into our lake:
- Leaves, Grass Clippings & Aquatic Waste
- Burning leaves is NOT permitted in Roaming Shores. When organic matter is destroyed this way, key nutrients are released and washed into the lake.
- Collect and compost leaves and grass clippings to haul them away from the lake. The Village Compost Site on Rt. 6 is open during daylight hours on weekends (call Village office or see website for updates). If we allow excess plant matter to end up in our lake, the build-up and decay adds to our water quality problems.
- Rake up aquatic plants, leaves, and other organic matter on the shore land and dispose away from the lake. Hint: It makes great mulch on the garden and can later be worked in as a soil amendment.
- Pet Waste
- Collect and dispose of pet waste away from the lake, if it enters our lake it can jeopardize water quality and increases risk of serious health issues. Pet waste contains these key nutrients and may also contain disease-causing organisms, creating unsafe conditions for water recreation.
- Picking up your pet’s waste and disposing of it properly safeguards you, your neighbors and your lake.
Enjoy this most beautiful time of year at the Shores!
Lake Sediment Control Sub-Committee minutes – August 14, 2013
Attendees: Barry O’Connell, Carolyn Tharp, Louise Lowrey, Rick Gainar, Rachel Morris, John Martin, Dell Rogers
Meeting started at 7:00pm at the RRA office.
Item 1. Introductions and back grounds of attendee’s experiences.
Item 2. All attendees expressed concern regarding level of nutrients and sediment coming into the lake.
- A discussion of the different studies and, their sources with the group strongly recommending that every source of information be evidence based and authoritative.
Item 3. The need to define a methodology that will lead us to a solution that best fits our lake sediment and nutrient loading issues was discussed.
- Suggested process / methodology for going forward.
- Create a data base of past and present relevant research related to sediment and nutrient loading of the lake.
- Identify appropriate local, state, and federal resources including Universities, nonprofit organizations, extension offices related to clean water.
- Identify sediment source
- Map and characterize sediment by analyzing
- Chemical
- Physical
- Biological/Biochemical elements contributing to unacceptable lake conditions.
Thanks to:
- Rachel Morris for her input and helping in defining the steps for our suggested process.
- Barry Oconnell for input and insight to pass studies and flow rates.
Next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday September 11, 2013 at 7:00pm RRA Office
Meeting ended at 8:30pm
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