what is causing my lake to have severe algae blooms?

Are you the owner of a lake or large pond? If you are experiencing severe issues with an algae bloom, you need to act fast. Your best bet is to call in the aid and counsel of an expert. Crosscreek Environmental is available to address your issues and provide you with workable solutions.

The Time to Prevent an Eruption of Algae Growth is Now

If your lake is filling up with toxic algae growth, you'll quickly notice some telltale signs. The clearest indicator is a mass of slimy green growth that coats over the surface of your lake. If left to grow unchecked, it will soon choke off all of the available light and oxygen. This will eventually lead to the death of all other organisms, plant and animal alike, in the lake. ​

What Are the Contributing Factors to Dangerous Algae Growth?

There are a number of factors that can lead to the growth of toxic blue-green algae in your lake or pond. These can include the following: 
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• Runoff of manure or fertilizer into your lake
• Excessive amounts of plant nutrients, such as phosphorus
• Water in your lake staying still for too long
• Excessive sunlight
• Prolonged warm temperature

What Are the Potential Hazards of Unchecked Algae Growth?

As mentioned above, the unchecked growth of algae can be a severe hazard to the health of your lake or pond. It's never a good idea to let algae grow without supervision. The main hazard is the blockage of sunlight and oxygen that a wild explosion of algae growth can lead to. However, there are other dangers that you need to be aware of.

If the algae in your lake transform into toxic blue-green algae, the health of the water, as well as the health of your family members and pets, will be in serious danger. Exposure to blue-green algae can result in severe health issues. These can include nausea, vomiting, stomach aches, nasty rashes, and allergic reactions.

What Are the Solutions to Cure Unchecked Algae Growth?

It's important to realize that not all algae growth is necessarily toxic. A certain amount of benign algae will always be present in any body of water. It's when this algae is allowed to grow without proper maintenance and control that it can become a serious health issue, both within the lake and even offshore. 

One of the best ways to forestall this issue is to make frequent use of nutrient reducers during the early spring months. This is an excellent way to prevent the overgrowth of algae. You will see the results immediately. The water in your lake or pond will become much clearer and there will be a lot less muck on the surface.

During the summer season, the warm sun and hot temperatures encourage the bloom of algae. In this case, your best bet is to make frequent use of algaecide solutions. This will keep the growth of algae to a minimum.

You Can Do Your Part to Keep Nutrients Out of Your Lake

One of the very best proactive measures you can take to keep nutrients out of your lake is to allow a pond wall to develop. Just allow a few of the plants at the edge of the lake to grow in order to form a natural barrier for manure, phosphorus, and other runoff. This is a safe, completely natural, and cost effective way to keep algae from blooming out of control and ruining the health of your lake.

Remember to Keep Your Lake or Pond Properly Aerated

One of the very best things you can do to preserve the health of your lake or pond is to keep it properly aerated. Oxygen is vital to the health of plants and fish in your lake. If the water in your lake is naturally still, you can buy an aeration fountain to keep it moving at a healthy pace of 7,000 to 10,000 gallons per hour. 

Aeration also brings other benefits in its wake. A floating pond fountain is an excellent choice to prevent the spread of mobile algae mats that can monopolize the surface. A fountain of this type will break up these mats and keep algae growth at a much more maintainable level.

Get in Touch with Crosscreek Environmental for More Details

If you have issues with algae bloom in your lake, you are not alone. Thousands of people talk to us on a regular basis concerning these issues. Crosscreek Environmental is here to answer all of your questions and provide you with expert solutions. Get in touch with us by calling 941-479-7811 to learn more about what we can do to keep your lake healthy.