(Prospect Lake)
By Nia Bender
COLORADO SPRINGS – Just in the nick of time for Labor Day weekend, Prospect Lake at Memorial Park is finally open again after being closed since June 15th, because of toxic blue-green algae. The Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department worked with Colorado Springs Utilities to conduct weekly water testing and they’ve been treating the lake with an enzyme-based, non-pesticide treatment that helped consume the biomass and oxygenate the water.
The parks department says they’ll continue to monitor and keep the community informed of current water conditions. It will also continue to apply the enzyme-based treatment. Test results from the last three consecutive weeks were all under the acceptable recreational level for the toxin, which is 8 micrograms per liter. A chart with all 2020 test results is available below. It can also be accessed HERE.
|
DATE TESTED |
MICROCYSTIN LEVEL |
|
6/16/20 |
22.0 ug/L |
|
6/23/20 |
14.0 ug/L |
|
6/30/20 |
7.9 ug/L |
|
7/7/20 |
78 ug/L |
|
7/14/20 |
7.1 ug/L |
|
7/21/20 |
33 ug/L |
|
7/28/20 |
49 ug/L |
|
8/11/20 |
34 ug/L |
|
8/18/20 |
1.5 ug/L |
|
8/27/20 |
0.9 ug/L |
|
9/1/20 |
3.96 ug/L |
So, what exactly is blue-green algae? The algae is a type of bacteria common in lakes throughout the state of Colorado. When conditions are right, blue-green algae multiplies quickly. Those conditions include sustained hot weather, stagnant water, and polluted stormwater runoff. It results in too much nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus in the water and that causes the bacteria to grow faster than the ecosystem can handle. The increased bacteria harm water quality and it decreases the amount of oxygen available to animals living in the water. It can also produce a toxin that is harmful to humans and pets.
Click here to read more on the danger to dogs.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) offers additional information on their website.
