Westhills Consulting British Colombia Forum Officials: Stay out of Langfor..
Officials: Stay out of Langford Lake10 Years AgoAn algae bloom in Langford Lake
has city officials cautioning people and those with pets to stay out of the
lake, due to concerns over toxicity. The bloom began in mid-December (2012),
despite the use last summer of a new aerator installed to control these types
of situations. The 4,627-kilogram device was put
in place in August and replaced a much smaller one installed in 1985. The
aerator was turned off less than two months later, since the lake generally
produces enough oxygen on its own in cooler months. “The aerator may not eliminate
(blooms) completely, but it will help with it,” said Langford parks
department spokesperson Yari Nielsen. Blooms occur naturally in fall and winter and happen when the lake “turns over,” he said. “So many nutrients come to the top of the lake.” While parks staff noticed an improvement last summer with the new aerator, it wasn’t running long enough to make a difference in the winter bloom, Nielsen said. This year’s plan is to run the device from mid-spring until fall, he added. “The new aerator was installed because the oxygen was so low. It’s already made a big difference. The fish are more active.” Before it was installed, he said, “all of the big fish would hang out in one zone.” |