Clearer waters expected at Burrell Lake following last year’s algal bloom

Lower Burrell Councilman Mike Stanoski looks forward to taking his three grandsons fishing at Burrell Lake Park this summer — without harmful algae in the water.

“Everything is good down at the lake,” Stanoski said. “People are using it, the weather’s breaking, everybody’s happy to get outside and head to Burrell Lake Park.”

City officials don’t expect any problems with Burrell Lake this summer after an algal bloom plagued its water last summer.

City Council signed a $5,900 contract with Solitude Lake Management last fall for water quality restoration. The contractor has since done a baseline, pre-winter treatment in the fall and has treated it twice already this year, said City Manager Greg Primm.

“They’ll keep maintenance on it until the end of the summer,” he said.

Park-goers last were greeted by the green water and unflattering smell from the algal bloom. Algal blooms occur when there are high concentrations of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, in stagnant or slow-moving water during warm temperatures.

The state Department of Environmental Protection last year classified the algal bloom as “harmful” and recommended the city post signage notifying park-goers of the bloom, which it did.

Primm said the city has not heard anything from DEP this year regarding Burrell Lake Park.

“If there’s no problem, we aren’t going to hear from them,” he said.

Swimming is not allowed at Burrell Lake Park, but people can fish there.

Stanoski said he’s pleased with Solitude’s work.

Primm also believes the worst of the smells and unsightly green water have passed.

“I don’t think people will have any issues or any problems there this summer at all,” he said. “That’s the reason we worked with Solitude, to fix it.”