Anyone know what the story is with this? Does this happen every summer or is this unusual. I lived over there for 10 years and do not recall seeing it so bad.
Parks & Rec Commissioner Bill Zimmerman sent along the following clarification:
In answer to your question concerning the algae bloom at Pinebrook Lake; all freshwater algae blooms are the result of an excess of nutrients, particularly phosphorous. The excess of nutrients may originate from fertilizers that are applied to land for agricultural or recreational purposes, these nutrients can enter watersheds through water run-off.
Additionally, excess carbon and nitrogen have also been suspected as a cause. As more algae and plants grow, others die. This dead organic matter becomes food for bacteria that decompose it. With more food available, the bacteria increase in number and use the dissolved oxygen in the water. When the dissolved oxygen content decreases, many fish and aquatic insects cannot survive. Many ponds and lakes experience this occurrence and it is not unique only to New Rochelle.This experience is a natural annual occurrence depending on weather conditions and factors listed above. Currently, Glenwood Lake, Paine Lake and Carpenters Pond have a higher than usual algae growth this season.
Mr. Zimmerman pointed out that water bodies like Pinebrook Lake are actually the ourview of the the DPW Commissioner, Alex Tergis so next time I will be sure to ask Mr. Tergis
What is happening to our lakes
Do you think taking care of our lakes and parks should be the first step in the GreeNR program? Noam has been told about the conditions of our lakes for years and has done nothing about them. Remember before he was mayor, he was the council person for the Pinebrook area. Whether you live near a lake or not this should be all of New Rochelle’s concern. Our quality of life is quickly being destroyed.
Lakes
Your are correct in saying that this quality of life issue affects all New Rochelle residents. And there are neighborhood associations around the lakes like Glenwood which have been advocating for restoring the lakes. The activism of these groups will encourage others to get involved.
Everyone knows that our lakes need to be addressed. Why hasn’t Bramson and company done anything? If we can get a million dollars for City Hall, we should be able to get the necessary funding to fix our lakes. Period!
It Is Never To Late Too Fix Our Lakes.
We are not alone in our problems with rivers, lakes and streams. Yes, the conditions of our municipal lakes have worsened over the years. One does not have to be here for 30 years to make a comparison. The problem is systemic to our water ways throughout New York State. There are not too many municipalities without lake and stream problems. And yet, few have done much to address this environmental issue.
One beautiful aspect of life in New Rochelle is that one can leave their home and within a 5 to 10 minute walk find themselves in a bucolic setting walking around a lake or looking out into the Sound. We get the best of worlds, the natural and the urban.
But the natural settings we once enjoyed are dying. I took three days off this week to take my daughter to Hudson Park to swim at the beach, but it was closed because of bacteria in the water. And as pointed out in this posting, the lakes are covered with algae.
Our waterways have been invaded by hardy strains of foreign algae and aquatic plant life that flourish in our summer climate. Dredging is a temporary fix because these plants are so invasive.
Lakes are failing to naturally aerate because the natural underwater springs are not flowing as our water tables drop. In addition, streams are not feeding the lakes and sedimentation is making them shallower. This is the result of the surrounding development which we enjoy. Yet, artificially aerating large ponds is not a resolution to the problem.
We need a permanent solution with annual maintenance to address our dying lakes. The communities around Glenwood Lake, Pinebrook Lake, Paine Lake and Carpenters Pond need to discuss their common plight. City Hall will not act unless there is expressed concern for all of our local lakes.
Our local government will spend $2,848,600 to improve energy efficiency at the City Hall building. This sum includes $1,000,000 secured by Rep. Nita Lowey, $642,600 from the federal Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant, and a loan from New York Power Authority in the amount of $1.206,000. Mayor Bramson boasts that it will save taxpayers $100,000 each year. But your taxes will not decrease as a result of these alleged cost savings. In fact, your taxes will continue to rise.
We need to demand that some of our tax money be spent on projects that directly benefit our environment and quality of life in the bucolic City of New Rochelle. I think it is time for lake communities to meet with DPW Commissioner Mr. Alex Tergis and city officials to see what funds are available to fix our lakes.
Sheldrale amd GoodLife Pond
I walk my dog every morning on the Sheldrake and Goodlife pond. There is not a spec of Algae. I believe the Westchester Joint Water Dept. uses some approved Chemicals which removes a lot of the agents that causes these problems. That water which travels down from Scarsdale and New Rochelle eventually winds up in Long Island Sound it may require treatment to keep it from harming the Sound. Jim Maisano could probably give you a contact to verify. Looking at similar ponds in New Rochelle will only tell us that no money is being spent in treatment.
Ponds are treated all the time with DEP and EPA approved chemicals to rid ponds of life killing Algae and to protect Long Island Sound from larger issues.
Sheldrake is or was a
Sheldrake is or was a reservoir so you don’t have storm drains emptying into it. The water that comes out of storm drains is usually polluted & lots of them empty right into Pinebrook.
Time for fountain
The high school lakes had this problem years ago. Someone made a donation to put in water sprays in the middle of the two lakes and the problem disappeared. The water at the high school got more h2o and the water was great. This is what beechmont lake needs…
Poor Geese
I actually feel bad for these geese although generally I am sick of Canadian Geese.
Pinebrook Lake
GreeNR for ya.
oh boy
yep
Beechmont Lake
I’ve seen the algae before, however, I tend to think that the gardeners that blow all the leaves into the stream that runs down Pinebrook blvd are partly to blame. You can also see the massive amount of leaves that have built up and decayed at the section where the stream empties into the lake. No doubt another expensive dredging will have to take place.
I can’t imagine anything could live there either
Why can’t DPW dredge it out?
Same thing happens every year at Glenwood Lake & they put in aerators last winter. The aerators didn’t improve things much as Glenwood Lake also had a lot of algae the last time I was there in June.
I can’t imagine anything could live there either since the algae blooms use all the oxygen in the water.
testing word count
Deepthroat, I agree. It’s very hard to follow now.
Bob, can you put back in the commentors name? I like to read/follow some bloggers and other I’ve learned to skip. Also know which story the comments are on is good to know.
Bob, I see you’re moving/changing things around now, thanks. Don’t forget to put the most recent comments at the top and oldest to the bottom.
Algae
Mr.Cox
I dont know if the problem which was once at Glenwood lake is the same as this one. But has anyone looked into a simple aerator / pump which would keep the water moving and preventing the algae from being so overwhelming. No where near the 1 million dollar price tag and Glenwood now looks great.
Bill Z Agrees
based on his email earlier today.