Lake Wylie commission warns of sedimentation, invasive algae and funding shortfall; seeks regional coordination

Representatives of the Lake Wylie Marine Commission presented a detailed annual report to the Gaston County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 8, warning that recent storms have left new sandbars, missing navigation buoys and debris that pose public-safety risks, and that sedimentation and an emerging cyanobacterial organism are threatening lake water quality.

Philip Brennan, speaking for the commission, said search-and-recovery and cleanup operations have been hampered by debris and submerged hazards. He reported that River Sweep volunteer operations were reduced this year because crews could not safely use boats and that buoys used to mark hazards are missing in places. Brennan urged caution and said the commission issued a public-service safety announcement advising people to avoid the lake unless necessary.

Brennan described sedimentation as "a cancer on the lake," said sandbars have appeared where water was previously deeper, and highlighted a new invasive cyanobacterium (referred to in the presentation as "lymbia") that can form unpleasant and potentially harmful algal mats. He said North Carolina State University’s aquatic-plant program has recommended treatments that appear effective but are costly.

Brennan gave several cost examples discussed by the commission: a $718,000 figure was cited for one lake project (transcript: "$718,000 for Lake Gaston"), Lake Norman treatment around $60,000, and Mountain Island Lake about $110,000; the commission’s own recent outlays included roughly $31,000 from its account. The presenters said the commission currently receives about $75,000 total per year from three counties to support treatment and monitoring, and warned that the current funding would not cover needed chemical treatments if the problem expands.

The commission said it plans to convene a stakeholder conference in January — inviting scientists, Charlotte Water and county partners — to analyze post-storm data and discuss coordinated funding and treatment strategies ahead of budget cycles. Brennan said the treatment program takes three to four years to be fully effective and that additional funds will be needed; the commission said it would come "with our hat in hand" seeking money to combat invasive species and sedimentation.

On regulation and safety, Brennan reported that the commission withdrew a proposed charter/rental-vessel permitting rule after determining it would conflict with the North Carolina Constitution and therefore be void; instead the commission is pursuing other safety measures and coordinating with law enforcement and counsel in Mecklenburg, York and Gaston counties. He also said the commission has committed $125,000 in seed money toward relocating or building a boathouse/boat storage facility and is working with local police and the Coast Guard Auxiliary on enforcement and safety patrols.

Board members asked about the safety of chemicals used in treatments; Brennan said Duke scientist Brett Hartis has reviewed the formulations and that experts so far consider them appropriate but that he would provide more specific answers to commissioners. Commissioners also raised concerns about fish kills and downstream impacts; the commission said scientists will analyze water-quality and ecological risks.

What’s next: The commission will seek broader stakeholder input at a planned January meeting and may request additional funding during county budget cycles; no binding county funding decisions were recorded at the Oct. 8 meeting.