Blue-green algae recently reported on Horseshoe

What are blue-green algae?

Though commonly referred to as algae, blue-green algae are actually not algae, but are types of bacteria called cyanobacteria. They are often present in bodies of water in Minnesota. This type of bacteria thrives in warm, nutrient-rich water. When conditions are right, the blue-green algae can grow quickly forming blooms. 

Certain varieties of blue-green algae blooms can produce toxins that are linked to illness in humans and animals. Avoid swimming or wading in water that appears to have a blue-green algae bloom. If you do come in contact with algae-laden water, wash with fresh water afterwards.

How can we get rid of harmful algae blooms?

We can't eliminate blue-green algae from a lake — they are an inherent part of the overall algal community. What we really want to do is control the overall intensity and the frequency of the blooms. Since we can't control the water temperature, the best thing we can do is to reduce the amount of nutrients entering the lake. This can be accomplished by reducing the amount of phosphorus and nitrogen from man-made sources such as lawn fertilizer, runoff from cities, cultivated fields, feedlots, and a myriad of other sources. 

For homeowners on the Chain, there are several things you can do to help.  The easiest is to avoid fertilizers near the water - particularly those with phosphorus.  Another thing to consider is the installation of a native buffer zone along your shoreline to filter out undesirable nutrients before they run into the lake and promote algal growth.  SRCLA offers subsidies to shoreline owners for projects like native buffers, as does the Stearns Conservation District.

Please contact Rick Reimer, Land Use Lead, at rick.reimer64@gmail.com if you’d like to discuss options.

Though a reduction of nuisance algal blooms will not be immediate, it is the best long-term solution to minimize the frequency and intensity of algal blooms.

For more information, including how to identify and test, see this page from the MN Pollution Control Agency:  https://www.pca.state.mn.us/air-water-land-climate/blue-green-algae-and-harmful-algal-blooms