For Immediate Release: 6/19/2015 9:19 pm
Worcester, MA (June 19, 2015) - Indian Lake will be closed Monday, June 22nd, due to a chemical treatment for nuisance algae. All use of the lake will be prohibited, including boating, fishing, swimming and irrigation. No humans or pets should be in contact with the lake water on this day.
The lake will be safe for swimming this weekend, and is expected to be reopened on Tuesday. Testing this week revealed blue-green algae at 2,300 cells per milliliter. Algae levels are considered unsafe for human activity at 70,000 cells per ml. Algae levels will continue to be monitored following the treatment.
A copper sulfate treatment will be applied Monday to reduce the bloom. The Indian Lake Watershed Association has hired Aquatic Control Technology, a licensed environmental management company with extensive knowledge of Indian Lake, to perform the treatment. The City will also contribute towards the treatment, which is conducted pursuant to a permit issued by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and an order of conditions issued by the Worcester Conservation Commission.
Growth of these naturally-occurring algae is aided by certain environmental conditions, such as warm weather, sunlight and excess nutrients in the water. Excess levels of nutrients in water bodies can come from human related sources. Phosphorous and nitrogen - found in lawn starter fertilizers, storm water runoff, wild waste and agricultural activities - are two key nutrients that aid blue-green algae growth.
An alum treatment applied at the end of May sought to manage the conditions that make the lake conducive to algae growth. Alum is a long-lasting treatment that works on the bottom of the lake. The algae being treated Monday was likely already present on the top of the water before the alum treatment.
"We are fortunate to have numerous individuals, families and local companies that have stepped forward to help us in bearing the cost of the short term plans," said Beth Proko, president of the Indian Lake Watershed Association. "We are doing everything possible to keep the lake open this summer while we work with our city and state delegation on implementing long term plans. Short term, we would not have been able to react quickly to changes in the conditions without this support."
