CyanoBacteria ??

[Chris Exley]

Just heard from a renter that Mirror Lake in Tuftonboro is having a CyanoBacteria closing. Can someone provide information for me about this? I haven't heard of this before.

Thanks

[mcdude]

Chris:

From NH Dept of Environmental Services


Exposure to toxic cyanobacteria scums may cause various symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, mild fever, skin rashes, eye and nose irritations, and general malaise. If anyone comes in contact with a blue-green algae bloom or scum, they should rinse off with fresh water as soon as possible. If you observe a blue-green algae bloom or scum, please call DES at 271-2304. DES will sample the scum and determine if it contains cyanobacteria that are associated with toxic production. An advisory will be posted on the immediate shoreline indicating that the area may not be suitable for swimming. DES will notify the town health officer, beach manager, and/or property owner, and the N.H. Department of Health and Human Services. DES will continue to monitor the water and will notify the appropriate parties regarding the results of the testing. When monitoring indicates that cyanobacteria are no longer present at levels that could harm humans or animals, the advisory will be removed.


See complete FACT SHEET (http://www.des.state.nh.us/factsheets/wmb/wmb-10.htm) here....

More than you ever wanted to know about CYANOBACTERIA (http://www.uni.edu/cns/LakeStudy/cyano__enteric_bacteria.htm).

[Skipper of the Sea Que]

Just heard from a renter that Mirror Lake in Tuftonboro is having a CyanoBacteria closing. Can someone provide information for me about this? I haven't heard of this before.

Thanks

In addition to Mcdude's links (thanks mcD), try this one to the NH Dept of Environment Services (NHDES)
Recreational Exposure to Cyanobacteria (Blue-Green Algae): What You Should Know (http://www.des.state.nh.us/Beaches/current.asp)

Also from NHDES Current (they say) NH Beach advisories (http://www.des.state.nh.us/Beaches/current.asp).

The stuff is not an algae but looks like it is.

Could this stuff choke out milfoil?

Anyway, if you catch some, take 2 asprin and call me in the morning... maybe... :emb:

[TomC]

because of this stuff too...

[Chris Exley]

I understand that one of the contributing factors to the outbreak was an emergency release from Wolfeboro's Waste Water Treatment facility.

How wonderful.

Just curious if rental units lose business because of this can Wolfeboro be sued for loss of income?

Are they building a new facility? I know they tried (or are trying) to get a loan from the state to help with this?

[wifi]

...... Are they building a new facility? I know they tried (or are trying) to get a loan from the state to help with this?

Last I heard they were trying to take, by emminent domain, acres of land to spray raw sewage on... how gross :eek:

http://www.woodardcurran.com/Newsletters/DAID/87/SA_ID/

[tis]

If Wolfeboro did do an emergency release that is surprising because they just had an article in the paper about how the amout of sewerage was down because of reducing leaks to the system. And I don't really know how they could do an emergency release with the type of system they have now.

The town is now trying to build a rapid infiltraton system which is similar to private septic systems that we are all familiar with. Course it will be a much bigger size. It will be piped to a sandpit location almost to the Tuftonboro line. The eminent domain thing had to do with the Woodard & Curran plan which was voted down. That would have sprayed water and snow (sewer) up in the air.

[tis]

I heard on the radio this morning that Mirror Lake is closed. You can boat and fish but don't eat the fish. If you get your water from Mirror Lake, boil it. Don't let your dogs drink it because it will kill them.

[Lake Fan]

doesn't Mirror Lake flow into Winnipesaukee? Yikes.

[ApS]

Mirror Lake drains into Winnipesaukee at the site of Ernie Piper's former gas station/post office/general store.

There are Lake Winnipesaukee shallows right there enjoyed by rafters, and one especially large condominium complex. That complex occupies the former site of a huge marina/dealership known as "Winnipesaukee Motor Craft", which my Dad always referred to as "Winnipesaukee Motor Crafty". :laugh:

Where Mirror Lake drains into Lake Winnipesaukee is shallow and filled with the same water plants as Mirror Lake. From route 109, you can see the Mirror Lake creek where it parallels the turnoff to Tuftonboro Neck Road on its southern side. (Left side of both roads, going north on 109). The summer flow is on-and-off, depending on rainfall. Last night's rain will have already increased its flow into the Big Lake.

This may be especially bad news for residents of "The Basin", who already had water quality issues.

Wolfeboro has future plans to draw water from Lake Winnipesaukee, as its present pond supply is unable to keep up with demand and is losing its former good quality.

The poison produced by the bacteria is quite potent, so I'm not sure I'd want to be in the area where a kettle of that water is being heated and aerosolized. PWCs driving over mats of cyanobacteria in other states have passed out unconcious.

Mirror Lake is posted "No Swimming", and the state recommends not to even shower with the lake water, or allow animals to drink of it.

(I think red squirrels are exempt from that last one. :laugh: )

[Chris Exley]

Here's the latest.

Over last weekend, residents reported seeing the blooms.
DES showed up Monday to run tests, they couldn't find any active blooms. Hence, there was no press release issues about a cyano bacteria problem.

For safety sake, the Tuftonboro codes offices kept the signs up this week, even though samples taken from the lake were clear according to the state.

Signs were being removed today. All prohibitions have been lifted.


Chris