It’s going to take a combination of approaches to address the issues that have turned Veterans Lake into the sickly green that has been seen for the past several months.
City officials continue to work with the state on effort and will be seeking state funding to help address the algae problem that has caused the site to be posted as a health hazard this summer.
Kansas Department of Health and Environment officials met with the Great Bend City Council this week to discuss possible methods to address the issue and it was clear that there is no easy fix to rid the water of the bacteria.
KDHE official Dan Wells told the council that the bacteria lives on phosphorous, which is readily available from a couple of local sources — goose droppings and the run off from local yards where large amounts of fertilizer has been used.
Wells noted that an important part of the solution will be to address the number of geese that are allowed access to the lake.
Also, he noted, it is important for the public to learn not too use too much fertilizer and to use types that will be less likely to run off into the lake.
The bacteria will, without nutrients, eventually die out — but it requires the lack of nutrients.
Wells said chemical treatment is not the answer, that any chemicals that would kill the bacteria would also do damage to the fish in the lake.
In the long run, developing taller grassed wet-land areas where run off would filter in, rather than just dumping into the lake, will be important to keep the phosphorous levels down and that is where the grants could come in.
City and state officials will be researching the grant possibilities and come back to the council, it was noted.
When the council met, it also discussed the option of dredging the lake, but it was noted the facility is large for that operation and there is also the problem of where anything dredged would be dumped.
The issue will continue under consideration.