If you live or work along the Cannon River from Shield’s Lake to Waterville to Northfield and Lake Byllesby, you might have noticed that the river is green and murky. The green color and odor comes from algae, an aquatic plant-like organism that lives in our lakes and rivers. Healthy rivers and lakes all have some green algae in them, but the water remains mostly clear and colorless. Alan Kraus and Kevin Strauss of the Cannon River Watershed Partnership explain that, while it’s not unusual or immediately harmful to human
health to see some algae, this year’s bloom seems especially widespread and more intense. The MPCA’s Watershed Coordinator, Justin Watkins, “When we don’t have a big rainstorm that ‘washes out’ or moves water through area lakes, they can act like algae incubators in late summer. The algae that grows in lakes often flows into the Cannon River.” If you’re a landowner and want more conservation practices implemented on your land, contact CRWP (www.crwp.net) or your local Soil and Water Conservation District. If you’re concerned about water quality, call your state legislator and county commissioner and ask them specifically what they are doing to address clean water issues in your area. You can also join organizations like CRWP to participate in actions that can lead to cleaner water in area lakes and rivers. Click on the full article: Cannon River Algae by Alan Kraus
