Kira Erickson reports from Island County for the Whidbey News-Times. Read the whole story.
Summary by Perplexity.ai
Lone Lake on South Whidbey is prone to harmful algal blooms because it is shallow and nutrient-rich. Tests have periodically detected anatoxin-a, a nerve toxin, and microcystin, a liver toxin, sometimes above state recreational guidance levels, prompting health advisories at public access points. Microcystin has appeared in the lake since 2007 and anatoxin-a since 2010, with blooms more common in warmer months. Past eradication of native plants and introduction of grass carp shifted the lake toward algae dominance. Cleanup is estimated at $250,000, but available grants are much smaller, leaving county officials unsure whether to start a multi-year treatment effort.
They Said It
Island County Commissioner Melanie Bacon noted in one of her newsletters earlier this month that she has received a number of letters from Lone Lane residents wanting the commissioners to apply for a grant to treat the algae problem. She has heard from Public Health staff that the lake needs $250,000 for this treatment, and the maximum grant award is $50,000. Since there is no way to guarantee the county will get this money annually for the next five years necessary to treat the lake entirely, the department has been working to decide if it is worth starting if it can’t be finished.
