The main reason some lakes are green is due to phosphorus and fertilizer.

Phosphorus is a necessary and natural elment found is soils, and rocks. An essential nutrient for animals and plants, it is also a common nutrient in fertilizers. However, the phosphorus that makes your lawn and garden green can also make the lake green. Of all elements, phosphorus is the key to managing lakes as “clean not green”. One pound of phosphorus can produce 500 pounds of algae. Keeping phosphorus out of the lake is one of the most important things that we can do to protect water quality.

Here are a few simple ways you can help reduce phosphorus inputs to your lake:

Properly operate and maintain septic systems, pump at least every 3 years.

Immediately repair or replace non-complying septic systems.

Develop and maintain a shoreline vegetation buffer.

Use zero-phosphorus lawn fertilizer or don’t use any.

Limit the use of pesticides and other garden chemicals.

Keep bonfires away from the lake, and clean up all ash.

Use phosphorus free dishwasher detergents.

Clean up pet waste.

Cover loose soil areas with vegetation and remedy any shorline erosion problems

• Avoid body contact with blue-green algal blooms.  This includes swimming, wading, water-skiing.
• Children especially should avoid contact.  Their small body weight means their exposures to blue green algae will be higher than adults, given the same volume of water intake.
• Local health and environmental agencies are encouraged to and generally do post recreational areas with signs and brochures to inform the public of the presence of blue-green algae blooms.