Gull Lake Algae bloom

[JConrad]

I have been on Gull fishing the past three days and have noticed a fairly significant algae bloom. Wondering if the same is happening on other local larger lakes like N. Long, Pelican, Whitefish chain, etc.

The bottom of my Ranger had a green scum all across it yesterday after being on the water for a few hours. It was not easy to get off..

This is not good!!!!

I live on Gull and have planted prairie grasses and flowers from my home down to the lake (approx 125 feet). Others who live on the lake should being doing the same.

We MUST TAKE CARE of this wonderful fishery..

As far as the Muskie debate...I honestly don't see any benefit by adding this fish to Gull... I don't think the risk (and there is a risk) is worth the potential reward. And by the way I do fish for Muskie's and feel we have a number of good lakes in the area....

[fish500]

It's important to note that not all algae blooms are bad. Many algae blooms would happen with or without human influence. Cyanobacteria (a.k.a. blue-green algae) are generally the undesireable types. However, in my opinion, you are 100 percent correct in being concerned. It's great that you have made efforts to help the situation. I don't think most people fully realize the damage we can do to our lakes by taking away the natural shoreline. It could eventually change the waters to the point where current fish populations won't be able to live and reproduce in them. I hope more people become concerned about this in the near future like you are.

[JConrad]

Fish500 thanks for the post....

I am not sure if this bloom is blue green algae or not.. Does anyone else know.. Also is this happening on other large area lakes?

Joel

[jtm]

It was real bad on edwards yesterday. But it was brown. Went on the dock this morning and it was all gone. It is also on pelican, but not as bad

[AWH]

The lack of wind will also make it appear worse. I was on Mille Lacs on Tuesday and the lake was pretty much flat calm all day. You don't often see much of a bloom out there, but it was pretty thick in places. A good wind should take care of it out there and help out on other lakes as well.

By the way, Joel, thanks for doing your part to take care of your shoreline. As Fish500 said, I wish there were more people that would think of the resource rather than what their landscaping looks like all the way down to the water's edge.

Aaron

[vaneeck]

Lots of the lakes in the area are experiencing blue green algae blooms currently, the blooms tend to look worse when you have light winds, gently pushing the algae to one side of the lake where it concentrates.(BG algae often have gas vaculoes which allow them to float in the upper part of the water, thus also giving them and advantage over other algae)

BG blooms often look greenish brown, often as the bloom peaks and some algae begins to breakdown. You can get blooms of green and brown algae also, but these are generally less common and also associated with cooler conditions then present currently.

BG algae are the ones which should be of concern to lake users and residents. They are the ones which can produce "toxins" which can sicken and even kill animals and cattle which drink the water. The problem lies in the fact that we cannot predict which blooms will produce the toxin, so the common thought is to try to reduce and minimize the severity and frequency of the BG algae blooms.

[JConrad]

nAaron. I had Prairie Restorations in Princeton plant it 3 years ago. It did look pretty rough the first year but it's coming along nicely now. More rain would help a great deal. I wish more lake area residents would do the same.. It sure helps the quality of our water and a variety of wild life.

I agree with you.... Too many people are concerned that their grass going down to the lake stays green... The nitrates filtering into the lake are not good at all.. More weed growth and of course blue green algae.

All, thanks for the update.. Frome what I have read the bloom on gull is blue green algae... Brown on the surface and green below the surface. A little wind today should help.

Joel

[OakdaleFMR]

My father-in-law let his lake front return to nature on the whitefish chain about 5 years ago, and it doesn't detract from any of the beauty up there. However the new lakeowners on each side of them altered there shoreline by putting in retaining walls with rocks several feet into the lake. Made it easy for the CO's to see the wetland violations. I believe the neighbor to the south is spending about $6,000.00 in "restoration". I have been going to the Whitefish Chain for 11 years and this is the first year there seems to be a visible decline in water clarity. Just my two cents.