In the heat of July, Lac des Roches typically experiences a rapid growth of algae from the nutrients in the lake, both natural and man-made. This algal bloom is pushed around the lake by the shifting winds and will typically find its way into shallow waters where it hangs up on surface objects such as weeds or snags. Although the algae itself is harmless, it will attract impurities and floating “stuff” on the water such as; dead insects, critter sheddings and vegetation pollen, all contributing to the algae’s unpleasant odor. Some residents are forced to harvest this thick blanket of bloom from their shoreline in order to access the water as it can impede the use of paddles and propellers. The algae can be effectively scooped from the surface of the water with an inverted leaf rake. Letting the water drain from the algae for several hours make it easier to handle for disposal or landfill. Plastic milk crate type bins, full of holes, are a perfect holding container for water-soaked algae to drain from. In the center of the picture below is a dark brown patch, a large piece of algal bloom blown out of the shallow bay at the Access #7 boat launch. Cooler temperatures and winter’s ice kills the bloom every year, but it reappears every summer now with the high level of nutrients in the lake.
