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Commission backs expanded algae-toxin testing after pilot finds additional toxin
Summary
Kosciusko County’s tourism commission approved added funding to expand weekly lake sampling next summer, add saxitoxin testing and run sample replicates after a pilot found evidence of an additional toxin; staff said the lakes generate large annual visitor-driven economic activity.
Kosciusko County commissioners approved expanded lake toxin monitoring to better protect residents and visitors. The county’s Lakes & Streams representative said a pilot program detected saxitoxin in some lakes and requested an increase in sampling and supplies for next summer.
Nate told commissioners that the county previously funded 10 weeks of sampling and is asking to expand that to 15 weeks next summer, covering Memorial Day through Labor Day. He said the commission provided $15,000 this year toward staffing, and requested an additional $15,000 to pay for testing kits and consumable supplies. The program will collect replicate samples to reduce false positives before issuing public alerts.
On detection and concern, Nate said, “We did a pilot study ... and found saxitoxin as also a toxin that's showing up in some of our lakes.” He added that detection levels are not yet at levels of immediate concern but argued for proactive monitoring. Commissioners approved the requested additional supply funding by voice vote with no recorded roll-call.
Commissioners emphasized the need for robust, publishable sampling methods and asked Lakes & Streams staff to submit a sampling schedule and reimbursement paperwork. The commission also noted that visitors and local businesses rely on accurate lake-quality information; the Lakes & Streams representative told the board that “over $300,000,000 comes into this county every year because of the lakes.”
Next steps: Lakes & Streams will provide a sampling schedule and submit reimbursement documentation by the end of the next calendar year as required for the grant award.
