Algae Bloom

Jeanzb1 · 08-28-2014, 01:41 PM

The trillions of tiny greenish brown specks that are in the top water column are called "gloeotrichia." It blooms usually in mid-August when the water is warm and there has been lots of sun. It is an algae.

glennsteely · 08-28-2014, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeanzb1

The trillions of tiny greenish brown specks that are in the top water column are called "gloeotrichia." It blooms usually in mid-August when the water is warm and there has been lots of sun. It is an algae.

....but, is it good or bad?

tis · 08-28-2014, 06:09 PM

As I said, what we have is good according to the lady from DES.

Jeanzb1 · 08-29-2014, 08:20 AM

If you Google "gloeotrichia," you can read all about this cyanobacteria. It is recommended that humans and pets DO NOT drink the water.

tis · 08-29-2014, 09:21 AM

Oh no, you do not want to even swim where there is cyanobacteria -not even let your dogs swim in it. But fortunately that is not what we have now.

BrownstoneNorth · 08-29-2014, 09:54 AM

Tis, you may have misunderstood what a DES lady told you some years ago -- cyanobacteria Gloeotrichia tends to occur in lakes that are generally clean/good.

After encountering large quantities of these specs a few days ago at Point Breeze on and just below the surface of Lake Wentworth, I inquired of both the DES and Lake Wentworth Association. Copying below the email I received from sonya.carlson@des.nh.gov and the post on the LWA website. We've temporarily switched our swimming to Brewster on Winni instead, which is so far clear.

DES:

It is most likely the cyanobacteria Gleotrichia. It is a cyanobacteria that appears in large, low nutrient lakes like Wentworth, Winnipesaukee and Squam. At this point, it is known that it does have the capability to produce microcystin, a liver toxin, but the concentration of the cells weren't large enough in Winnipesaukee to be of concern.

It could be responsible for skin irritation or gastrointestinal issues, but not enough is known to say when the threshold is crossed from harmless to potentially harmful.

LWA: http://www.lwa.org/2014/08/blue-gree...ack/#more-2547

Blue-Green Algae Is Back

Again, many people reported seeing lots of “little green dots” in the water this summer. Yes, it is a Blue-Green Algae but it also seems to be a relatively benign kind. Was here last summer in large numbers and for the past 4 or 5 in smaller numbers.

The Algae, called Gloeotrichia, was found throughout the lake most of the summer in low densities. Last year, there was a reasonably large bloom of this algae so it was expected this year. There are places with higher densities, most likely associated with the direction of winds. Last year, samples were sent to UNH to test for toxins (this species can produce toxins at times) but this species doesn’t seem to be as dangerous as other forms of blue green algae. There have been reports on this lake of rashes and some digestive issues after swimming which might have been due to this bloom or another cause (such as duck itch or normal indigestion). The bloom will probably disappear in a week or so but it is quite likely to come back next year because it has a life cycle that allows it to winter over at the bottom of the lake. More information is available in a brochure produced by the Lake Sunapee Assoc. with regard to their bloom of Gloeotrichia. The link is: Lake Sunapee Bloom. (It will download as a PDF separate from this web page.)

What individuals can do…reduce phosphorus input to lake. The Lake Wentworth Watershed Plan is designed to do just that. Gloeotrichia is tough to get rid of because it forms resting cells on the sediments and can draw from sediment phosphorus (accumulated from past loading) to start the cycle again. This species seems to be found in lakes that are relatively pure like Lake Wentworth, according to people from the New Hampshire Lakes Assoc., but the more phosphorus available, the worse the blooms may become.

Jeanzb1 · 08-29-2014, 12:36 PM

BrownstoneNorth: Yes, you are correct, as this is the same information I was given several years ago when I inquired of the state about Gloeotrichia. There are shallow areas and sandy beaches located downwind where the concentrations of it are HORRIBLE. It looks like coffee grounds dumped in the lake. YECH! And when you swim in those areas, you will see the "specks" on the inside of your bathing suit. But in deeper waters you will see much less of it.

tis · 08-29-2014, 02:00 PM

I think I need to explain. What we have now in the water we have had for many years in the month of August. The lady from the state said it is a good bacteria and means the lake is healthy. I don't know what it is called. I don't know if she was wrong but I know for sure what she told me because it was the first time I had ever seen it and I was worried.

I have never seen the cyanobacteria but from being told by talking to someone from the Mirror Lake Assn. and reading the newspaper that people who lived on Mirror Lake were not supposed to use it at all and not let their dogs use it.

That is all i know.

Jeanzb1 · 08-29-2014, 02:37 PM

I think we are talking about the same stuff. Take a clear glass jar and take a sample of the water and you will clearly see many little brownish "dots" suspended in the water. THAT is Gloeotrichia. It has appeared every August as long as we've been coming up here. Apparently, from what I've read and been told, it is always in the water, but it lies dormant on the bottom until the temperature and sunlight conditions are right for it to bloom. It's okay to swim as long as it is not too concentrated (shallow coves where it is so thick that it floats on the surface) but it's not okay for humans and pets to drink water where there is an active Gloeotrichia bloom.

08-29-2014, 09:54 AM	#6
BrownstoneNorth Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 213 Thanks: 110 Thanked 132 Times in 72 Posts	The greenish brown algae specs are a form of cyanobacteria Tis, you may have misunderstood what a DES lady told you some years ago -- cyanobacteria Gloeotrichia tends to occur in lakes that are generally clean/good. After encountering large quantities of these specs a few days ago at Point Breeze on and just below the surface of Lake Wentworth, I inquired of both the DES and Lake Wentworth Association. Copying below the email I received from sonya.carlson@des.nh.gov and the post on the LWA website. We've temporarily switched our swimming to Brewster on Winni instead, which is so far clear. DES: It is most likely the cyanobacteria Gleotrichia. It is a cyanobacteria that appears in large, low nutrient lakes like Wentworth, Winnipesaukee and Squam. At this point, it is known that it does have the capability to produce microcystin, a liver toxin, but the concentration of the cells weren't large enough in Winnipesaukee to be of concern. It could be responsible for skin irritation or gastrointestinal issues, but not enough is known to say when the threshold is crossed from harmless to potentially harmful. LWA: http://www.lwa.org/2014/08/blue-gree...ack/#more-2547 Blue-Green Algae Is Back Again, many people reported seeing lots of “little green dots” in the water this summer. Yes, it is a Blue-Green Algae but it also seems to be a relatively benign kind. Was here last summer in large numbers and for the past 4 or 5 in smaller numbers. The Algae, called Gloeotrichia, was found throughout the lake most of the summer in low densities. Last year, there was a reasonably large bloom of this algae so it was expected this year. There are places with higher densities, most likely associated with the direction of winds. Last year, samples were sent to UNH to test for toxins (this species can produce toxins at times) but this species doesn’t seem to be as dangerous as other forms of blue green algae. There have been reports on this lake of rashes and some digestive issues after swimming which might have been due to this bloom or another cause (such as duck itch or normal indigestion). The bloom will probably disappear in a week or so but it is quite likely to come back next year because it has a life cycle that allows it to winter over at the bottom of the lake. More information is available in a brochure produced by the Lake Sunapee Assoc. with regard to their bloom of Gloeotrichia. The link is: Lake Sunapee Bloom. (It will download as a PDF separate from this web page.) What individuals can do…reduce phosphorus input to lake. The Lake Wentworth Watershed Plan is designed to do just that. Gloeotrichia is tough to get rid of because it forms resting cells on the sediments and can draw from sediment phosphorus (accumulated from past loading) to start the cycle again. This species seems to be found in lakes that are relatively pure like Lake Wentworth, according to people from the New Hampshire Lakes Assoc., but the more phosphorus available, the worse the blooms may become. Last edited by BrownstoneNorth; 08-29-2014 at 10:01 AM. Reason: remove stray asterisks and typo

08-28-2014, 01:41 PM	#1
Jeanzb1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Gilford Posts: 557 Thanks: 639 Thanked 176 Times in 95 Posts	The trillions of tiny greenish brown specks that are in the top water column are called "gloeotrichia." It blooms usually in mid-August when the water is warm and there has been lots of sun. It is an algae.

08-28-2014, 06:09 PM	#3
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,821 Thanks: 759 Thanked 1,472 Times in 1,027 Posts	As I said, what we have is good according to the lady from DES.

08-29-2014, 08:20 AM	#4
Jeanzb1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Gilford Posts: 557 Thanks: 639 Thanked 176 Times in 95 Posts	If you Google "gloeotrichia," you can read all about this cyanobacteria. It is recommended that humans and pets DO NOT drink the water.

08-29-2014, 09:21 AM	#5
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,821 Thanks: 759 Thanked 1,472 Times in 1,027 Posts	Oh no, you do not want to even swim where there is cyanobacteria -not even let your dogs swim in it. But fortunately that is not what we have now.

The Following User Says Thank You to BrownstoneNorth For This Useful Post:
beagle (08-30-2014)

08-29-2014, 12:36 PM	#7
Jeanzb1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Gilford Posts: 557 Thanks: 639 Thanked 176 Times in 95 Posts	BrownstoneNorth: Yes, you are correct, as this is the same information I was given several years ago when I inquired of the state about Gloeotrichia. There are shallow areas and sandy beaches located downwind where the concentrations of it are HORRIBLE. It looks like coffee grounds dumped in the lake. YECH! And when you swim in those areas, you will see the "specks" on the inside of your bathing suit. But in deeper waters you will see much less of it.

08-29-2014, 02:00 PM	#8
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,821 Thanks: 759 Thanked 1,472 Times in 1,027 Posts	I think I need to explain. What we have now in the water we have had for many years in the month of August. The lady from the state said it is a good bacteria and means the lake is healthy. I don't know what it is called. I don't know if she was wrong but I know for sure what she told me because it was the first time I had ever seen it and I was worried. I have never seen the cyanobacteria but from being told by talking to someone from the Mirror Lake Assn. and reading the newspaper that people who lived on Mirror Lake were not supposed to use it at all and not let their dogs use it. That is all i know.

08-29-2014, 02:37 PM	#9
Jeanzb1 Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Gilford Posts: 557 Thanks: 639 Thanked 176 Times in 95 Posts	I think we are talking about the same stuff. Take a clear glass jar and take a sample of the water and you will clearly see many little brownish "dots" suspended in the water. THAT is Gloeotrichia. It has appeared every August as long as we've been coming up here. Apparently, from what I've read and been told, it is always in the water, but it lies dormant on the bottom until the temperature and sunlight conditions are right for it to bloom. It's okay to swim as long as it is not too concentrated (shallow coves where it is so thick that it floats on the surface) but it's not okay for humans and pets to drink water where there is an active Gloeotrichia bloom.