Good News - EPA says the water in Toona is ok

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Good News - EPA says the water in Toona is ok

Toxic algae levels are ok. So don't worry. Unless it is bright green or looks like pea soup. Just don't let your dog drink it.

https://www.ajc.com/news/local/epd-toxic-algae-levels-allatoona-lake-are-within-safe-range/oXtLjg0kKh8xeJn91d5YVJ/

What happens in a black hole stays in a black hole.

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Re: Good News - EPA says the water in Toona is ok
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Re: Good News - EPA says the water in Toona is ok

From Lake Lanier Association

Quote:
BLUE CLEAN FULL SAFE Lake Lanier Water Quality Update:

It was announced yesterday that toxins from blue-green algae was ruled out as the cause of death for Hall County Sheriffs K9 Officer Gus. Last Week, toxins were also found to be in the safe range for Lake Allatoona.

This has been a season with many concerns and scares regarding the quality of water in Lake Lanier. From geese causing some beaches to have high levels of Ecoli, the scare that toxic blue-green algae could be in Allatoona and by inference Lanier (which it is not) and that high chlorophyll a, or non-toxic algae concentrations were found in the lake. As discussions of these types of pollution issues spread throughout the community, it can put people on high alert and rightfully can cause concern.

Lake Lanier Association takes the CLEAN Lake part of our mission seriously. Through all of these issues we have been actively reaching out to limnologists, area municipalities, the Corps of Engineers, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and other stakeholders to discuss test results and gain a broad understanding of what is happening around the lake. Through dedicated volunteers we have also continued our year-round collection of chlorophyll a samples from across the lake. The major takeaways from these conversations and actions are:

1) No Indication of Blue Green Algae in Lanier: Area Water Resources Departments, regularly complete tests on the water pulled from the lake that will be used as drinking water. These tests are done to ensure there are not any issues regarding algae or cyanobacteria. Though blue-green algae can come and go throughout a lake, the testing done at these plants helps to test for these issues and can provide an alert if there are changes. Additionally, blue-green algae has a very distinctive appearance on the surface of the water that has not been seen in Lake Lanier.

2) Ecoli is not prevalent in the main areas of the lake. It has been found though to be at higher concentrations in a few shallow beach areas with a high population of geese.

3) The amount of nutrients, phosphorous and nitrogen, entering the lake do need to be reduced. There was a substantial increase in non-toxic algae this year, see the section below for more information.

4) Most importantly, Lake Lanier overall has great water quality! Lake Lanier is a natural body of water, even with the things mentioned above throughout the lake the water consistently tests safe and with low concentrations of pollutants.

LLA is in a great position to continue the CLEAN lake part of our mission and to coordinate with entities around the lake to ensure the source of drinking water and recreation for millions of people is protected. To preserve Lanier's water quality, it will take people and stakeholders from across the entire watershed working together and we are prepared to lead that effort. Shore Sweep on September 14th is a great way to start!

As always if you have any questions, please reach out to me at
770-503-7757 or .

Jennifer Flowers
Executive Director
Lake Lanier Association

Chlorophyll a returning to normal:

In March, Lake Lanier experienced higher than normal chlorophyll a test results and lower transparency readings. Chlorophyll a is the indicator for the algae concentration in the lake. These higher results were first noted in our sites north of Browns Bridge and then in April and May the higher results were found farther south in the lake as the nutrients moved downstream. After speaking with limnologists and other lake professionals we believe that the heavy rains in February and March washed nutrients from all around the watershed and the shore into the lake. These nutrients are made up of excess phosphorous and nitrogen from agricultural lands, fertilizer use on lawns and other urban sources. These additional nutrients in the lake were combined with unusually warm temperatures to produce the increased algal bloom in the lake. At the levels that we have seen there were no human health impacts. Our June and July testing shows the numbers starting to return to normal for chlorophyll a and transparency.

Shore Sweep 2019 is coming up on September 14th.
We would love to have your help to remove trash
from the banks and coves of Lanier!
Together, lets keep it CLEAN!

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