Water quality - algae and weeds

tis · 08-01-2022, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garcia

This year the weeds and algae seem worse than usual. Green algae collects on the mooring ropes, and what historically has been a sandy bottom is slowly developing batches of mucky growth. Do others notice more growth than in past years or am i just getting older and lamenting the way things used to be (even if they weren't exactly as i like to remember them.

I am on an island where all the close neighbors (myself included) have permitted, up to date septic systems, no one uses any type of fertilizer or chemicals, we don't feed or try and attract waterfowl, and we don't mess around with the shoreline. It is not an area where people anchor.

Others seeing the same thing of more algae than usual or is it unique to me (or just my imagination)?

Garcia, I have been on this lake my whole life and I can tell you that the sandy areas that don't get used, get mucky and vegetation grows. It's use and motion that keeps it sandy.

Garcia · 08-01-2022, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tis

Garcia, I have been on this lake my whole life and I can tell you that the sandy areas that don't get used, get mucky and vegetation grows. It's use and motion that keeps it sandy.

This sandy area is the same place I have been swimming my whole life, which is why I am wondering if others are seeing more algae growth this year than in the past.

There is also a good amount of wind and wave action

LIforrelaxin · 08-01-2022, 10:12 AM

Over the last 35 years, I have seen the lake front in front of my place change. As more manicured lawns have arrived, coupled with more docks and more boats, effecting the water flow through the area, the muck has slowly gathered, and so have aquatic weeds.

The best medicine I find for this is activity to turn the bottom up. The more we swim and play in the water, the clearer the area gets. For this reason, I am willing to rent children, I will feed them well as payment....

While McMansion, and manicured lawns certainly play a role, the drastic over use of the lake is really to blame... Couple that with mother nature etc. and slowly things go the wrong way.... Along with Fertilizers, Septic leaching, pesticides, how many people blow leaves into the lake? Wash boats in the lake? Go into the lake with sun cream on? I can go on and one here..... Winnipesaukee for years, was an unspoiled gem, but it has gained popularity rite fully so, and now the lake itself is paying the price.

Lakegeezer · 08-01-2022, 01:30 PM

Local watershed studies have shown that water runoff is the most common cause of nutrients entering the lake. You might look for new areas on the island where vegetation ha been cleared. Take a kayak along the shore and look for erosion ruts on the shoreline.

Septic systems and fertilizer are other causes, but lower on the list. What is not in the report is the impact of boat wake stirring up the bottom. Nutrients tend to settle on the bottom. When wake washes through shallow areas, the nutrients are brought into the water column. Have you seen an increase in boat wake?

Water quality varies by the season. Typically, the dryer the season, the less algae (due to less runoff) but temperature is another factor.

Onshore · 08-01-2022, 02:01 PM

There are a number of factors that need to be considered. One is the intensity of rain events. Our rain events may be less frequent but are more intense. This means a more intense flushing of the catchment basin into the lake and a potentially greater nutrient loading. And there's more development everywhere, not just the lakeshores, to contribute nutrient to the lake through its tributaries. Shoreline development does lead to fewer trees at the shoreline and less shade. More sunlight penetration allows more photosynthesis and warms water temperatures which further stimulates growth. Increased wave action erodes shoreline soils and stirs up bottom sediments introducing more nutrients within the water column. Individuals that somehow "forget" their aquatherm is still set to run daily and has been "accidentally" turned down towards the lakebed or who irresponsibly chose to use devices designed to blow sediments away from lakebed areas contribute even more nutrient s to the water column. As I have explained before algae growth works like any other form of combustion. it's all about fuel to air ratio. Lease the nutrients settled on the lakebed with a limited surface exposed to dissolve O2 and there will be some algae growth on and near the bed. Mix those nutrients up into the column with greater exposure to dissolve O2 and growth growths explodes.

Momofthreema · 08-09-2022, 07:56 AM

This is so disappointing to hear. We are planning to buy a house in the area, but I hate the idea of ruining the lake

. Does anyone know if there is a list of best practices for individuals and homeowners associations in terms of lessening human impact on the lake?

FlyingScot · 08-09-2022, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Momofthreema

This is so disappointing to hear. We are planning to buy a house in the area, but I hate the idea of ruining the lake

. Does anyone know if there is a list of best practices for individuals and homeowners associations in terms of lessening human impact on the lake?

See my post #7 above. Visit the LWA website

Descant · 08-09-2022, 02:22 PM

DES, LWA and NHLAKES.org all have info on best management practices. Plant blueberry sod instead of grass. No maintenance, and mostly green all year.

08-01-2022, 10:12 AM	#3
LIforrelaxin Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas, Lake Ray Hubbard and NH, Long Island Winnipesaukee Posts: 2,876 Thanks: 1,037 Thanked 892 Times in 524 Posts	Over the last 35 years, I have seen the lake front in front of my place change. As more manicured lawns have arrived, coupled with more docks and more boats, effecting the water flow through the area, the muck has slowly gathered, and so have aquatic weeds. The best medicine I find for this is activity to turn the bottom up. The more we swim and play in the water, the clearer the area gets. For this reason, I am willing to rent children, I will feed them well as payment.... While McMansion, and manicured lawns certainly play a role, the drastic over use of the lake is really to blame... Couple that with mother nature etc. and slowly things go the wrong way.... Along with Fertilizers, Septic leaching, pesticides, how many people blow leaves into the lake? Wash boats in the lake? Go into the lake with sun cream on? I can go on and one here..... Winnipesaukee for years, was an unspoiled gem, but it has gained popularity rite fully so, and now the lake itself is paying the price. __________________ Life is about how much time you can spend relaxing... I do it on an island that isn't really an island.....

08-01-2022, 01:30 PM	#4
Lakegeezer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 1,679 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 354 Thanked 640 Times in 291 Posts	Causes of decreased water quality Local watershed studies have shown that water runoff is the most common cause of nutrients entering the lake. You might look for new areas on the island where vegetation ha been cleared. Take a kayak along the shore and look for erosion ruts on the shoreline. Septic systems and fertilizer are other causes, but lower on the list. What is not in the report is the impact of boat wake stirring up the bottom. Nutrients tend to settle on the bottom. When wake washes through shallow areas, the nutrients are brought into the water column. Have you seen an increase in boat wake? Water quality varies by the season. Typically, the dryer the season, the less algae (due to less runoff) but temperature is another factor. __________________ -lg

08-09-2022, 02:22 PM	#8
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,413 Thanks: 1,365 Thanked 1,636 Times in 1,068 Posts	BMP's DES, LWA and NHLAKES.org all have info on best management practices. Plant blueberry sod instead of grass. No maintenance, and mostly green all year.

08-01-2022, 02:01 PM	#5
Onshore Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 503 Thanks: 12 Thanked 425 Times in 146 Posts	There are a number of factors that need to be considered. One is the intensity of rain events. Our rain events may be less frequent but are more intense. This means a more intense flushing of the catchment basin into the lake and a potentially greater nutrient loading. And there's more development everywhere, not just the lakeshores, to contribute nutrient to the lake through its tributaries. Shoreline development does lead to fewer trees at the shoreline and less shade. More sunlight penetration allows more photosynthesis and warms water temperatures which further stimulates growth. Increased wave action erodes shoreline soils and stirs up bottom sediments introducing more nutrients within the water column. Individuals that somehow "forget" their aquatherm is still set to run daily and has been "accidentally" turned down towards the lakebed or who irresponsibly chose to use devices designed to blow sediments away from lakebed areas contribute even more nutrient s to the water column. As I have explained before algae growth works like any other form of combustion. it's all about fuel to air ratio. Lease the nutrients settled on the lakebed with a limited surface exposed to dissolve O2 and there will be some algae growth on and near the bed. Mix those nutrients up into the column with greater exposure to dissolve O2 and growth growths explodes.

The Following User Says Thank You to Onshore For This Useful Post:
Diana (08-09-2022)

08-09-2022, 07:56 AM	#6
Momofthreema Member Join Date: Sep 2020 Posts: 40 Thanks: 34 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	This is so disappointing to hear. We are planning to buy a house in the area, but I hate the idea of ruining the lake . Does anyone know if there is a list of best practices for individuals and homeowners associations in terms of lessening human impact on the lake?