Condo Media - August 2017 - 36

TREAD

WATER
BY KARA SLIWOSKI

ANSWERS TO YOUR COMMON LAKE AND
POND QUESTIONS FROM THE PROFESSIONALS

runoff; however, other causes are possible. A professional lake or pond manager can help accurately identify the
source of the problem and develop an effective management plan.

WHY IS OUR POND GREEN?
Without proper water quality testing and analysis, it
can be difficult to determine the exact causes behind a
green pond. The green you're seeing may be algae. While
algae look similar to some aquatic plants, they lack true
roots, stems, and leaves, and can be present in one of two
forms, or both: microscopic or filamentous. Microscopic
algae are single-cell plants suspended within the water
column, usually resulting in a "pea-soup" look. Microscopic algae, specifically cyanobacteria (blue-green
algae), are capable of producing toxins, which can be
detrimental to human and wildlife health. Filamentous
algae have a "stringy" look and often creates large mats
on the water's surface or along the bottom. Additionally,
some common floating green plants in New England can
also cover a waterbody's surface, like watermeal (Wolffia
sp.), duckweed (Lemna sp.), and water chestnut (Trapa
natans). Excessive algae growth is usually the result of an
increased nutrient input, such as fertilizer or agricultural

IS THE POND SAFE FOR SWIMMING?
HOW CAN WE TELL?
The best approach for validating safe water is periodic
water quality analysis. Professional water quality
consultants can identify problematic conditions
within the aquatic ecosystem, and help determine
the best management strategy to make it recreationally safe. There are some visual ways to determine if
a pond is safe for swimming. Using basic observatory
skills and judgment, some "red flags" of unsafe waters
can indicate the need for water quality testing. Water
color is a good primary indicator of water quality; if it
is noticeably different or unusual (i.e. green, soupylooking), there is likely an issue. Although green water
may indicate an algae bloom, not all algae are green
and some can produce harmful toxins. Another red
flag is scent; foul odors can be produced by harmful
factors within the waterbody, and can indicate that
something is wrong. A visible fish kill or other wildlife
impacts also signal that the waterbody is unfit for use.
Aquatic plants may not seem problematic, but can be
dangerous if they are dense and high within the water
column as they could become tangled in the legs of
swimmers or boat propellers. Although signs of unsafe
water are not always inherently obvious, good judgment and observation can offer a lot of information. If

espite the beauty, recreational space
and natural wildlife habitats that our
nearby waterbodies provide, lakes
and ponds are often plagued by various ailments that can detract from the aesthetics, health,
and functionality of their aquatic ecosystems. Although these issues are generally universal, there can
be region-specific concerns impacting New England
waterbodies. The following are a few responses to
common questions often asked by those interested in
lake and pond management.

CONDOMEDIA

Condo Media - August 2017

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