June 2015 Newsletter: Ballston Lake Algae

It is green and slimy mass that can be removed by skimming. Surface water becomes phosphorous rich when the lake turns over in the spring bringing the phosphorous up from the bottom of the lake. The DEC Algae Alert Program is up and running at Ballston Lake. If you see a green paint like appearance to the surface water that is streaky please contact me( Dave Pierce) at 399-6308 or pep416@aol.com and I will come to the location and take a water sample. DEC will notify us within 3 days what the algae species is and the level of toxins that exist. Once we hear from DEC we will send an Algae Alert Email to everyone on the email list. Make sure we have your email address when you pay your yearly dues. Last summer water samples analyzed by DEC did contain microcystis. In 2014 the water did not contain levels of the toxin microcystin above 4ug/L.