Dr. Nate Bosch, Center for Lakes & Streams, presented an update of activity and reports the organization has been working on with the city of Warsaw during Monday evening’s Warsaw Common Council meeting.

Bosch stated it was a busy year for the center working with the city. He noted last year there was a study on E. coli at Pike and Center lakes, in the fall work focused on log jams in the Tippecanoe River that mitigated flooding in the lakes, as well as an toxic algae study in Winona Lake, which is continuing.

He noted the two chemical spills into Winona Lake – from the Warsaw Chemical fire and recently from Dalton Foundries.

Each board member was presented individual studies on Pike, Winona and Center lakes, three of 19 studies compiled of the county’s largest lakes. The studies titled “Beneath the Surface, An Investigation into Your Lake’s Health,” are a culmination of the center’s four-year study of blue-green algae toxins and addressed factors affecting local lakes including algae growth and toxins, E. coli levels and dissolved oxygen.

The reports were distributed in May to residents living on lakefront properties and supporters of the Center for Lakes & Streams. The reports are also accessible online at lakes.grace.edu. He encouraged council members to take a look at the studies.

The studies included what action can be taken to keep the individual lakes a great place to live. Individually persons can reduce fertilizer use, add vegetation along shorelines to filer out nutrients and avoid yard waste entering the lakes such as leaves, grass clippings and other yard waste, which increase algae growth, reduce water clarity and lead to less oxygen for fish.

As a community it is suggested to expand collaborative relationships and projects with non-lake residents, provide financial support toward research to solve identified challenges, and engage lake neighbors and non-lake community members in educational programs that inform how to best take care of the lakes.

Bosch was asked about anticipation of E. coli in any of the lakes and algae issues. He stated testing for E. coli began Memorial Day and it is too early to tell, the same with the algae levels. He noted problems with E. coli would take off in July and August and in June/July for the algae.

He also gave a brief overview of the upcoming Northern Lakes Festival, which kicks off Friday, June 5, with numerous events occurring during First Friday and concluding June 20 with the grand finale at Central Park. Other events will occur between the two dates. Information about the festival is available at lakesfestival.org.