ST. MARYS, Ohio – (Indiana’s NewsCenter) - Efforts to stop the spread of a toxic algae are paying off. Millions of dollars are being spent to help clean up a northwest Ohio lake.
Blue-Green Algae has been a problem for the past few years in Grand Lake St. Marys in Ohio. The EPA has been funding an alum treatment on the lake.
"It's a way we can tie up phosphorus and phosphorus is a food source for the algae,” said Brian Miller, Manager, Grand Lake St. Mary's State Park.
The first treatment last year helped. This year they're doing it again.
"We're doing this alum treatment earlier than what we did last year, trying to get ahead of any algae blooms,” said Miller.
The algae isn't as bad right now because of the water temperature.
"We do have algae here 365 days a year but it's at lower populations when the water temperatures are cooler, it's when those water temperatures warm up is when we really could have an issue,” said Miller.
When more of the toxic algae is in the lake the state park is forced to post warnings. In 2010, they had the highest warning.
"The goal is to have an advisory free season this summer but Mother Nature will dictate where that goes,” said Miller.
Miller says the problems with the algae has hurt tourism in the area. This summer they're offering discounts for people to visit to state park in hopes of attracting more people to the lake.
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