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Lakewood says alum treatment has prevented toxic cyanobacteria; residents press concerns about lake ecology
Summary
City staff and contractor Tetra Tech reported the alum treatments reduced phosphorus and ended toxic algal blooms; public commenters and some council members raised concerns about altered lake color, alkalinity and wildlife impacts.
City staff and contractor Tetra Tech presented an update March 17 on treatments at Wauchaup Lake, saying the alum applications reduced phosphorus and have so far prevented toxic cyanobacterial blooms, while residents and some council members pressed the city to study whether the treatments altered habitat and water chemistry.
City Engineer Jeff Westenott summarized the lake’s history and the 2020–2023 alum applications. “The treatment was successful. It did meet the goal, which is to prevent toxic algal blooms,” Westenott told council. He said the 2020 program included two higher-dose treatments and a reduced dose in 2023; total contractor costs cited in the presentation were about $128,000 for the 2023 work and $297,000 for the 2020 treatments.
Shannon Bridal, senior limnologist for Tetra Tech, told council the monitoring required by the Department of…
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