There is no question the subject of Clear Lake algae has been on everyone”s mind. There is even an algae committee of concerned citizens who are attempting to come up with a plan to control or eliminate the algae in the lake. There are also a lot of myths going around that blame the algae on different events that have occurred on the lake.
I recently heard one individual say the algae was responsible for the duck and fish die-offs that occurred a few years ago. Not true. The duck die-off occurred in January of 2004 when thousands of ruddy ducks died. The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) took samples of the dead ducks to their laboratory in Sacramento where necropsies were performed. The cause of death was avian cholera, not the algae. Avian cholera is a common disease among waterfowl.
The same goes for the fish die-off. The dead fish were carp and the DFG studied some of the carcasses and determined the cause was a Koi virus caused by someone releasing a diseased Koi fish (a relative of the carp) in the lake, which resulted in the virus spreading to the other carp. Again, it wasn”t the algae.
There also have even been unsubstantiated reports of dogs and cats dying after being exposed to the algae.
Make no mistake, few people like the algae and it is a nuisance for lakeside homeowners and those who boat on the lake. The problem is not a lot is known about the causes of the algae in Clear Lake. Has it been here for the three million years that Clear Lake has been in existence or is it a new growth? For example, many people claim the recent algae blooms are the result of the many vineyards that have sprung up around the lake. There is also the question of just how many septic tanks leech into the lake.
Before a solution to control the algae emerges there needs to be a scientific study done. A good example is the mercury in the lake. The University of California at Davis did an extensive study of the mercury in the lake a few years ago and came up with a number of solid recommendations. They even had an office at Library Park in Lakeport. A similar project could be done with the algae. In fact, the county could solicit university students who are working on their doctorate degree to study the lake and come up with recommendations. The students would receive a small stipend as well as room and board. Grant money could be used.
Since Clear Lake is the oldest lake in the Western Hemisphere I would think that many students would jump at the opportunity to study the lake. The best part of using university students is that they would have all the data on the lake at their fingertips. They also would have the expertise of their professors to assist them.
A study would determine if the nutrients that cause the algae to grow come from the agriculture around the lake. It would also identify if there are septic systems leaching into the lake. A study could also identify what species of algae are causing most of the problems and if it would be safe to remove them. Above all, any cure must be eco-friendly. Not all algae is bad. In fact, some species of algae are vital for the health of the lake and without it many of the fish in the lake would disappear. A crystal clear lake is not always the best environment.
Any study would take several years to complete and it may take additional years to clear the lake of the nuisance algae. In nature nothing happens overnight, even if we want it to. Of course, a compressive study may also show that nothing could be done and that the algae is part of the lake”s natural ecosystem.
