Cyanobacteria in Lakes & Ponds?

[Just Sold]

This article deals with Mascoma Lake not far from Hanover but could we have a similar problem in Winni and the surrounding lakes and ponds????

http://www.boston.com/business/healthcare/articles/2009/09/14/nh_researchers_see_toxin_found_in_pond_scum_as_pos sible_cause_of_als/?page=2

[White Rook]

Hello All,

My son lives on Cobbett's Pond in Windham, NH. In mid August, a notice went out to the surrounding residents to keep people and pets out of the water near the patrolled beach area because of Cyanobacteria. I did a quick Google search on Cobbett's Pond and found this link to the event http://des.nh.gov/media/pr/2009/090814.htm.

Stevie

[Rattlesnake Gal]

The Weirs Times (http://www.weirs.com/index.html) had a great article about cyanobacteria in their August 20th edition, page 36. A couple of weeks later in the September 3rd edition, page 6, there was a story about how the first article saved Hannah, a little Yorkshire Terrier puppy's life! :D

Excerpt from the August 20th edition:

How You Can Help Prevent A Bloom In Your Lake

To reduce the chances of a cyanobacteria bloom occurring in your lake, you need to help reduce the amount of nutrients, such as phosphates, that enter the water. As discussed in this column in the July 9, 2009, issue of The Weirs Times (http://www.weirs.com), there are many simple things you can do to reduce your individual contribution to phosphorus pollution: vegetate shorelines with native plants; use phosphorus-free fertilizer; dispose of yard waste away from water bodies; use phosphate-free soaps; repair eroding areas; keep the shoreline clean by not feeding waterfowl; and, upgrade out-dated or undersized septic systems. Don’t be afraid to swim in New Hampshire’s lakes—instead, feel lucky lakes from 37 that in New Hampshire we recreate in one of the only states where lakes are tested for this potentially toxic bacteria! And, don’t forget to “look before you leap!”

For the most up-to-date cyanobacteria advisories issued for New Hampshire’s
lakes and ponds, visit New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Beach Inspection Program (http://www2.des.state.nh.us/Advisories/Beaches/)'s website.

This past weeks Weirs Times (http://www.weirs.com) (September 10th) has a good article on page 17 called, Protect New Hampshire’s Waters - Plant a Vegetated Buffer!

[VtSteve]

They've been dealing with this blue-green algae for years up in the northern parts of Champlain. Particularly in bays that have lots of farm runnoff. I also know that three people I know that grew up around those parts swimming, all three have Chrones disease, for whatever that link may provide. For as much talk as there was about fertilizer and all, the main problems we have come from farmers and waterfowl. Two pretty touchy areas, so not much is done.