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November Update on Lake Conditions
Mother Nature pitched two perfect storms at Lake Waramaug this year: heavy rains on top of record snow melt in March and "Irene" in August. The results were not pretty.Snow-generated high phosphorus levels in the spring sustained rolling algae blooms. After an early summer algae breakout, our systems were able to cope with these adverse conditions through mid-July when we recorded 10-foot water clarity. But too much of the time this year algae painted the lake with a greenish coloring - evidence of the force of nature. It provided an eerie reminder of what the lake looked like in the summer of 1975 that spurred the founding of the Task Force.
Next year we will be better prepared to deal with the destructive impact of the successive algae blooms that plagued the lake this year. Not since the late 1990s have we witnessed such a high volume of algae in the lake. Waves of algae blooms died off and decayed and in the process used up oxygen in the lake at a much higher rate than normal. Oxygen was depleted from the deep water much earlier than usual, releasing phosphorus from bottom sediment — along with hydrogen sulfide, iron and other elements. Summer storms and winds churned up this phosphorus into the middle layer of the lake, feeding more algae growth. Also, hydrogen sulfide seeped into the bottoms of our Layer Air systems. The "rotten egg" sulfide odor was released at the lake surface only in the vicinity of the Layer Air systems, but we had to shut down the systems in consideration of the people who lived nearby.
Then in late August "Irene" delivered the knockout punch. Eroded stream banks and shorelines flooded the lake with more sediment and phosphorus. The hurricane force winds mixed the lake from top to almost the bottom. Once this happens there is no advantage to operating our inlake systems. Thus after Irene, two to four weeks earlier than usual, our systems were shut down. Our scientists are concerned that algae and poor water clarity conditions will likely continue until the water cools this fall. Even worse, they are worried that the damaging effects of these storms may carry over to next spring.
In response the Task Force approved modifications to the Layer Air systems and the Arrow Point "Frost" system. Divers will adjust the intake ports on the Layer Air systems and the intake flume at the Frost system will be modified to protect against the upwelling of hydrogen sulfide that hampered these systems' operation in 2011.
Nevertheless we remain positive. We are pleased that our invasive weed program continues to be successful. Plant specialists conducted comprehensive shoreline weed inspections, divers hand removed all invasive plants and the lake motorboat weed inspection program (422 boats inspected) contained the spread of curly leaf pondweed and prevented new invasive plants from taking hold.
The work of the Task Force remains challenging. Each new problem demands a solution that our lake scientists continue to meet. All of you who support us are such an important part of our success. When you have a lake as beautiful as Waramaug, the effort and expense are necessary and worthwhile. Thank you so much to those who continue to make the Task Force a priority in your charitable giving. We invite new donors to join us in the ongoing project of saving Lake Waramaug.
Linda Frank, Chairman
Thomas A. J. McGowan, Executive Director
Peter P. Mullen, 1928-2011
The Task Force mourns the loss of Peter Mullen, a long-time board member and an outstanding leader in the protection and preservation of Lake Waramaug, who died on October 15. Peter had also served as president of the Lake Waramaug Association. His guidance and generosity have had a major impact on the lake community and his extraordinary contributions to our efforts will be greatly missed.Past Newsletter Articles are available from the archives.
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