First Cyanobacteria Warnings of 2024 Issued for Lake Winnipesaukee

[WinnisquamZ]

Originally Posted by gillygirl

Many cases are anthropogenic. Sorry if it doesn’t fit your narrative that man isn’t having deleterious effects on the planet, but we are.


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But you are allowed to blame man for all of earths problems. Believe you are the only one here with a agenda


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[4 for Boating]

So I understand and agree that run off causes issues and there are more than a few homes that for whatever reason were allowed to take waterfront trees down and put in lawns but regarding fertilizer in particular - to say that the homeowners are solely responsible for this aspect (if it is in fact happening and causing these issues) would be overlooking local landscaping firms/businesses that actually do the work and would or should know better.

[John Mercier]

I believe there is a law and some cert/licensing requirements within a certain zone, but the run-off can come from a lot farther away than just the property right on the lake. But it is more likely a combination of several things and that it doesn't ''flush out'' of the lake that easy.

What they are noting is the phosphorous levels are higher than the natural background.

I believe the alum treatment is to lock that phosphorous into the lake bottom. I think it combines and settles out.

[SAB1]

Correct. There are many causes to the problem. Fertilizers are just one issue.

[tis]

Geez people. I am tired of blaming it all on fertilizer. We have a flat lot and grass and we haven't fertilized it for years. It is very green. I agree with Winnisquam, and I read that a lot of it is natural. It gets out of control sometimes and was never previously like it is now.

[TomC]

Effluent from poor/failing septic systems can be another cause...

[Biggd]

We can argue about the causes of bad water, bad air and climate change forever. The only thing that is guaranteed is, doing nothing changes nothing!

[FlyingScot]

Originally Posted by 4 for Boating

So I understand and agree that run off causes issues and there are more than a few homes that for whatever reason were allowed to take waterfront trees down and put in lawns but regarding fertilizer in particular - to say that the homeowners are solely responsible for this aspect (if it is in fact happening and causing these issues) would be overlooking local landscaping firms/businesses that actually do the work and would or should know better.

Good point--they posted on that yesterday, for homeowners and landscapers
https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums...ad.php?t=29548

[gillygirl]

Originally Posted by WinnisquamZ

But you are allowed to blame man for all of earths problems. Believe you are the only one here with a agenda


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I’m not the one speaking in absolutes.


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[BroadHopper]

This has been an issue since the McMansion owners started developing the lake. They completely disregard the lake infrastructure as their landscape is the top priority. Look at the fertilizers they use before sunset or sunrise on their lawn!

As for Lake Winnisquam, it all started when they were treating sewage in Laconia next to the public ramp. The discharge created huge bacteria counts on the lake and down the Winnipesaukee River. They finally built the plant next to the Merrimac River in Franklin and diverted sewage there. The lake never recovered.

If only we could foresee this back in the 50s.

[Lake Winnipesaukee Alliance]

6/14/2024 Update: NHDES issued a press release yesterday about the blooms on Winni. They have recommended that "Any surface scum, no matter the color, should be avoided to prevent toxin exposure. Do not recreate, let children play in, or let pets in any surface blooms. NHDES will resample the affected areas on June 19 and will continue weekly resampling if the bloom continues."

https://www.des.nh.gov/news-and-medi...-winnipesaukee

This is what the sample off of Tuftonboro Neck looked like under the microscope. Pollen scums are completely normal for this time of year, but we are seeing more cyanobacteria in these scums as well.

[Onshore]

I've been asked (not told) to refrain from posting on this forum until I retire or move on. I have honored that request but, in this instance, I'm making an exception. This problem is real. This is not just pollen. Fertilizer is not the sole cause. Contributing factors include fertilizers, increased run-off, reduced nutrient uptake in the watershed due to reduced vegetative cover, more geese, higher stream water temperatures due to less tree shading on contributing waters, more nutrients released into streams due to poor soil stabilization practices sites during and after construction, higher water temperatures, lack of winter ice cover, increased mobilization of lakebed sediments and mixing of nutrients in the water column due to boat traffic, increased nutrient contributions from flooding... I could go on. Yes, cyanobacteria are naturally occurring and native to our waters. No, they shouldn't bloom so aggressively. That they do, indicates that the system is currently out of balance giving them a growth advantage until they outstrip the available resources and starve themselves out.

This is our legacy. There is no simple, immediate remedy. People here can, and will, disagree about the causes and the viability of solutions. That said, it would seem that the people here generally do agree that they like their dogs, cats, and kids. Please do not disregard these warnings when they appear. The risk, particularly to pets that may drink from the bloom area, is real. Hopefully, these blooms will pass quickly.

[camp guy]

The post by Onshore is very important reading. People may discuss this situation using different words, but no matter how you slice it, if, by whatever means, the quality of the Lake is degraded to a point where it becomes a health issue, the economy of the Lakes Region, in the summer, will suffer immeasurably.

I read a quote a while back that hits this nail on the head, "Spend more time finding solutions and less time finding blame".

Grandfathered septic systems, poorly enforced regulations, and personal arrogance have all contributed to this problem - now it is the time the correct all this.

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by camp guy

The post by Onshore is very important reading. People may discuss this situation using different words, but no matter how you slice it, if, by whatever means, the quality of the Lake is degraded to a point where it becomes a health issue, the economy of the Lakes Region, in the summer, will suffer immeasurably.

I read a quote a while back that hits this nail on the head, "Spend more time finding solutions and less time finding blame".

Grandfathered septic systems, poorly enforced regulations, and personal arrogance have all contributed to this problem - now it is the time the correct all this.

Once phosphorous enters the system, it is actually pretty hard to remove it... which is why they are using the alum.
The alum binds with it and removes if from the cycle... at least for a time.

[Susie Cougar]

Originally Posted by WinnisquamZ

But you are allowed to blame man for all of earths problems. Believe you are the only one here with a agenda


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What is her agenda that you don’t like?