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Onshore · 10-01-2004, 01:28 PM

The filamentous green algae has been around the lake longer than any of us. The fact is that it has become more dominant in the last 20 years. As lake development increases, more trees are cut, more driveways and roof tops are installed (called impervious areas) and less areas are available to decrease the flow and energy of the inflowing water. There are also less buffer areas that can filter the phosphorus rich water before it enters the lake. We have now altered the watershed flow regime to an increase of surface water flow and a decrease of groundwater flow to the lake. More surface water means more erosion and more phoshorus (P), the nutrient that is necessary for plant growth. How many can remember when the rocks did not have a slimy coat of green stuff on them?
No one should be drinking the water without treatment, it is like playing Russsian Roulett, you never know what protozoa, bacteria or virus is floating by your intake when you turn on the faucet. Class A bodies of water are determined legislatively. These waters are considered to be potentially safe for a water supply uses after adequate treatment. Many of these Class A waterbodies do have filamentous green algae, the amount is dependent upon the P concentration in the waterbody.
Yes, shoreline erosion is a factor in increasing turbidity and P to the lake. Erosional remnants contain P that eventually severs the bond with aluminum and iron to become available to the plankton or vascular plants.
Lake Winnipesuakee is a Class B waterbody. It would take a cooperative effort between all the surrounding towns, and all the state's environmental resource groups to start a watershed plan that is consistent and protective of the lake, a tall order.
I think milfoil and other exotics are here to stay for a while. New milfoil research that will get underway within the year will hopefully help NH find better ways to control this terrible plant. Right now, NH leads the United States with one of the toughest exotic plant laws in the nation. Now NH will be the first to conduct some research that will potenially give limnologists better insight to why it grows so well here, new biological controls, more effective herbicides and more DNA research.
Algae in high concentrations give off both odors and can color the water. I susect that an infiltration well a fair distance from the lake will filter at least the algal cells. I would have the water tested seasonally to check for any seasonal variation in water quality.

10-01-2004, 01:28 PM	#9
Onshore Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 500 Thanks: 12 Thanked 400 Times in 143 Posts	The filamentous green algae has been around the lake longer than any of us. The fact is that it has become more dominant in the last 20 years. As lake development increases, more trees are cut, more driveways and roof tops are installed (called impervious areas) and less areas are available to decrease the flow and energy of the inflowing water. There are also less buffer areas that can filter the phosphorus rich water before it enters the lake. We have now altered the watershed flow regime to an increase of surface water flow and a decrease of groundwater flow to the lake. More surface water means more erosion and more phoshorus (P), the nutrient that is necessary for plant growth. How many can remember when the rocks did not have a slimy coat of green stuff on them? No one should be drinking the water without treatment, it is like playing Russsian Roulett, you never know what protozoa, bacteria or virus is floating by your intake when you turn on the faucet. Class A bodies of water are determined legislatively. These waters are considered to be potentially safe for a water supply uses after adequate treatment. Many of these Class A waterbodies do have filamentous green algae, the amount is dependent upon the P concentration in the waterbody. Yes, shoreline erosion is a factor in increasing turbidity and P to the lake. Erosional remnants contain P that eventually severs the bond with aluminum and iron to become available to the plankton or vascular plants. Lake Winnipesuakee is a Class B waterbody. It would take a cooperative effort between all the surrounding towns, and all the state's environmental resource groups to start a watershed plan that is consistent and protective of the lake, a tall order. I think milfoil and other exotics are here to stay for a while. New milfoil research that will get underway within the year will hopefully help NH find better ways to control this terrible plant. Right now, NH leads the United States with one of the toughest exotic plant laws in the nation. Now NH will be the first to conduct some research that will potenially give limnologists better insight to why it grows so well here, new biological controls, more effective herbicides and more DNA research. Algae in high concentrations give off both odors and can color the water. I susect that an infiltration well a fair distance from the lake will filter at least the algal cells. I would have the water tested seasonally to check for any seasonal variation in water quality.