|
 |
Voices being heard, lakes being studied
|
| By: Amber Gieseke |
September 23, 2009 |
|
|
It would be tough to find someone who has been in or through Chetek in the past few weeks who can say the lake water quality isn't an issue. Algal blooms and a wretched stench coming from the water are hard for anyone to miss, and a few of those people have taken a stand and hope to get something done.
|
Ann Luebke and friend Cindy Spang, who both have lakeshore properties, decided this year the water quality was its worst in decades and that something had to be done.
"We've been here for 16 years, and this is the worst it's been in that time," said Luebke. "My grandchildren visited and they couldn't swim in the lakes, not even out in the middle. When my granddaughter started coughing and had a scratchy throat, I thought something needed to be done."
So they drafted a petition and placed copies in numerous businesses around town last week.
"We hope this will show there is a community interest in the lake water quality," Luebke stated. "It's in most businesses around Chetek and in some of the resorts. People have been very receptive so far; it's a large topic around town."
The ladies will present the petitions to Chetek Lakes Protection Association President John Plaza to present to the Department of Natural Resources.
In August, the CLPA failed to receive a grant to study the lake water quality and draft a plan to fix it. One of the reasons was the seeming lack of community concern. Plaza feels the petitions are a good way to show that Chetek citizens care about the lakes.
Besides vocalizing concerns through the petitions, Plaza received numerous phone calls complaining about the "algae and toxic stink," he said.
Plaza got in touch with DNR Jim Cahow, a water resources management specialist, and Cahow, Plaza, Larry Luebke (Ann's husband) and others assisted in taking water samples from two bays in the lake-bays that were significantly affected by algal blooms.
Cahow was going to perform Ph and dissolved-oxygen tests on the water, and although calls to him were not immediately returned, Barr Engineering scientist Margaret Rattei completed her analysis.
"Basically," she said, "both samples had more algae in one drop of water-after diluting it-than I've ever seen in my 35 years of doing this."
She explained there were two main types of algae found in the samples-microcystis aeruginose and mylindrospermopsis raciborski. When there are too many of these, she said, it can be a problem.
"These two species have the potential to make toxins. There's no way of knowing if they have yet without more testing," she continued.
She did say, however, that someone downstream from the Chetek lakes was having the same algal problems and got the water tested for toxins and the test was negative, but that doesn't mean the algal blooms in the Chetek chain are non-toxic for sure.
"The smell is the rotting algae and isn't toxic," the scientist said. "It's an enormous mass of plant material that is decaying. Eventually it will sink to the bottom or disappear, but all that phosphorus is returned to the water, and algae will continue to grow as long as they have phosphorus-especially with little rain and warm days."
Rattei, who spent time studying the Chetek chain in 1996, said her hypothesis on why the lakes are so bad this year is because there hasn't been much rain to keep the water flow going.
"The water just stays there and allows the algae to grow, especially in those back bays," she said.
"This isn't a gloom and doom story, though," she laughed. "It can be fixed. It just takes more studying and money, but there are some things the lakeshore owners can do in the meantime."
Her tips coincide with that of the CLPA's:
* Use phosphorus-free fertilizer and only when necessary.
* Maintain sewer systems and make sure they don't empty into the lakes.
* Create a buffer of native plants between lawns and the shore.
* Keep lawn clippings out of the lake.
Plaza will meet Oct. 28 with DNR officials from Barron, Spooner and Eau Claire who will help with the next grant proposal.
"They are all working with us to get the grant," Plaza clarified. "They are not the individuals who score the grant and award it."
Rattei says that while waiting for the grant money to come in, people need to realize Chetek lakes are not the only ones who have this problem.
Lakes Menomin and Tainter near Menomonie are experiencing blue-green algae blooms and have a stench reported to be similar to the one Chetek residents have been exposed to.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is aware that the harmful algae blooms may cause health issues and are working with the DNR.
To ensure safety while using the lakes, Rattei gave some advice: Do not swim or wade through algae; do not boat, water or jet ski over algal blooms; do not fish in algae-laden waters; and always shower off with soap and water after swimming in a lake. Pets should also be kept out of algal blooms and not allowed to ingest algae.
"These are precautions for if the algal blooms are toxic," Rattei emphasized. "Again, there is no way of knowing if they are toxic until further testing is done, but it is important to know it is a possibility."
|
|
©The Chetek Alert 2010
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Pam Bailey |
Sep, 30 2009 |
| |
We've been at Six Lakes Resort for five years. Last year, my husband and I got married on the dock. We certainly could not have done that this year with the horrible smell and ugly lake water. Hopefully, something can be done about it.
|
|
|
|
Julie Jones |
Sep, 24 2009 |
| |
I was heartened to read about the petition on this matter. I have been coming to Chetek for the past 35 years and could not believe how awful the channel looked over Labor Day. As more of a visitor than resident, I have a hard time believing the Chetek citizens would not care about something like this. I have never experienced a community that pulls together like Chetek does. Most importantly though, is the worry that whatever is in these lakes could be causing harm our health and could potentially have a serious impact on the tourist industry here. I applaud Ann Luebke and Cindy Spang's efforts!
Sincerely,
Julie Jones
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
