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Wolverine Lake board weighs responses to heavy algae bloom, aims to lift treatment restrictions by June 25 next year
Summary
Residents and board members described an unusually heavy filamentous-algae outbreak on Wolverine Lake. Officials said warm surface water and low rain are drivers, outlined near-term algae-specific treatments and resident reporting procedures, and proposed a schedule change so no treatment restrictions affect the week of July 3 next year.
Residents and board members at a Wolverine Lake meeting described an unusually heavy filamentous-algae outbreak and discussed short- and long-term responses.
Erin Laybourne, who identified herself as a council member and resident of 1559 Schenken Drive, showed photos and told the board: “I cannot recall a time that we've ever had this amount of biochar in the lake.” She asked whether the level of algae is expected, what to anticipate in coming weeks, and what proactive steps the board could take.
The board's primary response came from the member leading lake operations (Chair), who said the lake is unusually warm and shallow, reporting a measurement of 82 degrees at 5 feet: “The surface water is extremely warm.” He explained that the combination of very warm water, prolonged sun and little rain is driving unusually large algae growth this season and described the current contractor-based approach: a survey by Progressive and an on-site “search-and-destroy” algae run by the treatment firm (AquaWeed) that lets field crews treat wherever they see algae because algae-specific treatments carry no post-treatment swimming posting restrictions.
Board members advised residents that the fastest way to get algae treated is to report locations through the village reporting form or by email so the contractor can prioritize specific sites. The Chair said, “when you see it, you could send — we had there's a form online or you could email me — and then we get it to the AquaWeed company, and they try and come out as fast as we can.”
The board also discussed seasonal limits on preventive products. The Chair explained certain slow‑release preventive chemicals used in late May cannot be applied in June or July because of fish‑spawning rules, limiting options during the midsummer months. As a result, the board is relying on targeted surface applications and on resident reporting this year.
On scheduling, the board reviewed complaints that treatments around the July 3 holiday had restricted some uses of lake water in the lead-up to the holiday. To avoid repeating that problem, the Chair proposed setting a calendar rule so that all treatment-related restrictions would be lifted by June 25 next year, meaning surveys and treatments would be scheduled earlier in the month where feasible. The board agreed to add the date to next year’s key‑date calendar and to coordinate timing with Progressive to minimize both restrictions and mid‑season algae growth.
The meeting closed the discussion by encouraging resident help with shoreline removal where safe and feasible, and by noting the contractor-led algae treatment scheduled for that day.
Next steps: the board will continue to accept resident reports, pursue out‑of‑cycle “search-and-destroy” treatments when appropriate, and will review the treatment calendar with the lake consultant (Progressive) to implement the June 25 target in the next season.
