Alton Bay is under 'Cyanobacteria Alert' per DES
 

In case people haven't seen - Alton Bay is under a Cyanobacteria Alert per DES:

https://experience.arcgis.com/experi...71d999454e8c4/

Sad. Is this unusual for Alton Bay? I can't recall any past warnings on the big lake for such a large area...at least in the 8 years I've been here.

This ..... http://www.foxnews.com/us/nh-make-up...ollution-fears ..... is maybe new information to you, and the State of New Hampshire has until December 31, 2025 to construct a new waste water treatment facility for the Powder Mill State Fish Hatchery that is connected to Alton Bay via the Merrymeeting River.

So, what if anything does this have to do with the cyanobacteria warning now in place by the NH-DES starting on July 31, 2023 with "light green specks, specifically at Alton Town Beach" identified as Dolichospermum? Is it caused by the fish hatchery pollution or is it coming from something else?

Today is August 4, 2023.

Expect Spreading...
 

Cyanobacteria thrive especially well where lawns are present. :eek2:

Recent rains have "rinsed" large quantities of Phosphorus into the lake from upslope lawns. Alton Bay isn't as prone to this "rinsing" as Winter Harbor, where wake-surfing "visitors" ply their craft.

We shouldn't encourage Connecticut-style lawns, but strongly suggest Blueberry sod as suggested by SAMIAM recently.

Curious if anyone knows how often the DES will test for this?

Per the DES Site, says the most recent sampling was on July 31st - for some reason I would have thought they would test every few days at the very least, especially before the weekend(s) as people pile in.

Alton Bay is under Cyanobacteria alert
 

The Merrymeeting River drains directly into Alton Bay, and both sides of Alton Bay are steeply sloped, and heavily populated, and we all know "what runs downhill", so is it any wonder Alton Bay is posted.

Only half serious but, I wonder if Alton Bay residents have an action against the state for loss of use of their swimming beaches. I’m sure some class action lawyers are already investigating the possibilities.


Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

Already went to court.
That is why the State has to make the changes.

Saw people swimming there on Saturday .

August 24, 2023: Gloeotrichia cyanobacteria; Alton and Wolfeboro
 

Lake Winnipesaukee Gloeotrichia cyanobacteria alerts, August 24, 2023

Today is Thursday, August 24, 2023, and the NH-DES Healthy Swimming Mapper .... http://www.des.nh.gov/water/healthy-...wimming-mapper ..... now shows current cyanobacteria alerts for:

Chestnut Cove and Robert's Cove, Alton, 8/24: "Green clouds of material accumulating along shorelines. Avoid areas with very dense accumulations." Initial Cyanobacteria identified: Gloeotrichia

Carry Beach and Delling's Cove, Wolfeboro, 8/18 and 8/24: "Green clouds of material accumulating along shoreline. Avoid areas with very dense accumulations." Initial Cyanobacteria identified: Gloeotrichia

Rattlesnake Island, Alton, 8/24: "Green clouds of material accumulating along shorelines. Avoid areas with very dense accumulations." Initial Cyanobacteria identified: Gloeotrichia

Here's the Wikipedia listing on Gloeoetrichia ...... www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloeotrichia ..... which has a link to Lake Sunapee in New Hampshire.

I didn't see the Alton Bay and Delling's Cove alerts.

Hey tis ...... two ways to see them ...... go to Current Cyanobacteria Alerts and move the vertical side bar on the right, downward ..... or go to the map and click on the red location square warning symbol and use the arrows

The info is a wee bit buried, now, what with all the August 24 and today, August 25, late summer, long list of NH lake cyano locations but unfortunately is here on the big lake.

I kinda wonder if these Lake Winnipesaukee green Gloeotrichia growths in Alton and Wolfeboro come from the Powder Mill ..... http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/fish...y-project.html .... fish hatchery in New Durham on the Merrymeeting River that runs through Alton to Alton Bay?

Geese?
 

How much does the geese population contribute to the cyanobacteria problem?We have a big flock of geese in our bay, and it is absolutely disgusting how much waste they leave behind. They cannot be good for the water.

Are you ever right about that!!

Canada goose
 

www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_goose will weigh 6 to 14-lbs, live for 10 to 24 years, are territorial, and "will communicate with ten different vocalizations each in response to a different situation confronting them."

Canada goose family.... www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5EQVx2UfA4 ..... crossing a busy street in Oregon, eight years ago.

"They are monogamous, and most Canada goose couples stay together all of their lives."

Canada goose ..... www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kT3yEhyPeg ..... approaches soldiers at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, March 27, 2018.

Geese in general are not. But they flock there because we have made the conditions to their liking.