7507-R3_LSLA_2021_SummerNewsletter_Web

What’s Happening Surface / Sub-Surface

CLIMATE Change af- fecting Ice In-Ice Out-Ice Duration-We know last summer was the warm- est on record. What we didn’t know was it may be a factor on when the ice freezes. There is speculation that the cli- mate is affecting when the ice safely freezes and for how long. Win- ter of 2020-2021 saw the

lake freeze in December, unfreeze with the Christmas rainfall, and partially freeze again with open spots in the middle of the lake until mid-February. Snow pack on slushy conditions created unsafe portions of the lake leading to ice shacks and side-by-sides needing retrieval assistance. It is be- lieved that the short duration of ice cover will have a negative impact to the lake by allowing it to remain warmer than usual. Ice reflects sunlight allowing the water to remain cool. Effects of warmer waters can range from greater dissolved oxygen loss, increase in vegetation growth creating more phosphorus loads when dying which can cause more algae growth. ALGAE BLOOMS have been documented throughout the lake. Phosphorus released from the bottom sediment is mixed in the water column when the lake turns over at the end of the summer. This phosphorus assists algae already present in the lake to rapidly grow. Normally in a couple of days the algae growth dies and leaves various forms of green or brown matter on the lake. Wind and wave action will eventually disappear; other lakes in Maine shared similar occurrences. Please report

each year so we can track new areas and document where the algae blooms occur. Raking leaves when the water table goes down or prior to it returning in the spring will help lessen the phosphorus load going into the lake.

Over the past few years

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