Blue Green Algae Windermere

[Croak]

Do we get more Blue Green Algae on Windermere Because we haven't got the speedboats mixing the water up?

 

[AngusMcDoon]

I would have thought that nutrient run-off from farming and septic tanks would be more likely to be causing eutrophication promoting algae growth. Windermere is know to suffer from the effects of eutrophication.

 

[Lakesailor]

But the blue green algae increased dramatically after 2005. People were baffled by dogs dropping dead an hour after swimming in the lake. It has been widely postulated that the lack of aeration has had an effect.

 

[aquaplane]

I would have thought that all the lakes suffer about the same from agricultural run off but Windermere has had the worst problems with water quality.

Whether it's got worse since the speed limit I don't know.

Who has been watching the blokes from United Utilities stirring up reservoirs then?

 

[Jim@sea]

Its probably because boats with Sea Toilets dont actually replace them with chemical toilets or go and empty the tanks out.

 

[IJL]

Is this a problem at the moment? I'm heading there on saturday for a week with the boat and dog. (wife and kids as well but they arent going to drink out of the lake)

 

[Lakesailor]

There don't seem to be any warnings at the moment. It's not been hot enough for long enough yet. It's not the green slime you see at the lake edge. It's a sort of (you guessed it) blue/green iridescence you see at the surface of the water. A bit like like coloured flour floating.
If your dog were to drink the water when it's got this bloom it could be fatal. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/p...fter-swallowing-algae-in-Lake-Windermere.html

A call to the Warden will put your mind at rest. 015394 42753

 

[Border Terrier]

An informative thread.

I have seen the "green slime" on Ullswater recently and try to persuade my canine crew Rustie not to drink it.

 

[Lakesailor]

A friend with a Patterdale Terrier used to walk by the lake every day. (He had a char boat on a landing).
Bob, the terrier, used to think that water lapping against the boats indicated rats where there so he used to try and find them. The must have drunk a swimming pool's worth of Windermere over the years.
Bob is dead now, but died of old age.
Not saying that it's safe to drink the algae, but it isn't always fatal.

 

[Croak]

Who has been watching the blokes from United Utilities stirring up reservoirs then?

Me, Did he say 99% success rate?

 

[aquaplane]

Something like that.

Windermere is bloody cold below the top foot or so even on warm summers days, stirring it up may well make a difference but I suspect the warm aerated top bit is what is on it's way through and dissapears down the Leven taking the algae with it.

 

[Lakesailor]

This is the algae. The bright white thing is my plastic oar. You can see the reflection of the underside of it. As you stir the algae it clears away and so you see the clear water below like Aquaplane Bob says.

 

[IJL]

There don't seem to be any warnings at the moment. It's not been hot enough for long enough yet. It's not the green slime you see at the lake edge. It's a sort of (you guessed it) blue/green iridescence you see at the surface of the water. A bit like like coloured flour floating.
If your dog were to drink the water when it's got this bloom it could be fatal. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/pe...indermere.html

A call to the Warden will put your mind at rest. 015394 42753

Thanks i'll get in touch