Blue-Green Algae on Lake Champlain

Exposure Symptoms
Blue-Green Facts
Useful Links

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Blue-green algae Facts

Blue-green algae : a naturally occurring algae that grows in many surface waters.

Sources : Blue-green algae grow in summer in calm, warm, shallow water which is rich in nutrients (ex phosphorus and nitrogen).

Cyanobacteria: Blue-green algae which can be found on the borders of lakes and ponds are not actually true algae, but are a type of microscopic organisms called cyanobacteria.

Watch out for blooms that look like thick pea soup or green paint, or that have a bluish, brownish, or reddish green appearance. On shores and beaches watch out for a foamy, thick mat.

Many thanks to the Lake Champlain Basin Program and the Lake Champlain Committee for much of the research and information supplied on these pages. Their web sites are listed and linked below.

Blue-Green Algae and Lake Champlain

The Lake Champlain Land Trust is concerned about blue-green algae blooms because they are one of the greatest threats to the survival of Lake Champlain as the beautiful, resource rich lake we know today. Blue-green algae blooms can be harmful to humans and animals, posing a serious public health threat. Blooms also dramatically reduce our ability to enjoy the recreational opportunities of the lake, swimming, boating, and fishing. Additionally many people get their drinking water from Lake Champlain. Blooms are a threat to this resource as well. We have put together this page to help you better understand the causes of algae blooms as well as the dangers they pose.

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A blue-green algae bloom

If you have any questions about blue-green algae and its effects that were not answered here, please feel free to email your question to us at: I have a blue-green question. (info@lclt.org). We will be happy to try to answer your question or direct you to a resource.

What is a blue-green algae bloom?
Cyanobacteria, more commonly known as blue-green algae, are an ancient group of algae. Although they are most closely related to bacteria, like plants, they are capable of photosynthesis. Their pigmentation gives them their characteristic color. They reproduce rapidly in lakes and ponds where there is shallow water, adequate amounts of sunlight, warm air/water temperatures, calm winds, and sufficient amounts of the nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen.

Pea soup or Green Cottage Cheese?

A bloom containing blue-green algae may look like thick pea soup, green paint or green cottage cheese. It may appear bluish, or even brownish or reddish green. It forms a thick mat or foam when it washes ashore.

It takes only a few days for a clear lake or pond to become cloudy and green with algae growth. A bloom can literally appear overnight and it will last until the wind and waves desperse the algae cells in the water. Although blue-green algae blooms create nuisance conditions and undesirable water quality, most blooms are not toxic. Missisquoi Bay, St. Albans Bay and areas of the South Lake are most prone to these blooms

Why be concerned about blue-green algae? Some blue-green algae produces natural toxins or poisons. When these algae die and break down, toxins are released into the water. If animals ingest the toxin, they can be quickly paralyzed and die. Signs of poisoning include weakness, staggering, difficulty breathing, convulsions and death. During the summer of 1999, the death of two dogs was attributed to blue-green algae poisoning. Both dogs were reported to have drunk large amounts of contaminated water directly from Lake Champlain. Signs of a toxic bloom may include:

large numbers of dead fish, waterfowl or other animals
sudden, unexplained sickness or death of a cat or dog
a skin rash on humans after being in the water

What Precautions should you take if you encounter blue-green algae in the Lake. Use common sense and treat it as if it could be toxic. Don't let your pets or children play in water that has clumps of blue-green algae floating in it. Both tend to drink water from the lake, be it intentional or unintentional. Even without the presence of blue-green algae, it is not wise to drink untreated lake water.

What solutions are there to reduce blue-green algae? The best solution to reducing the incidence of blue-green algae blooms is to reduce the amount of phosphorous and nitrogen in waters feeding into the lake. This can best be done by reducing fertilizer usage (for grass and agriculture), and by eliminating wastewater discharge, residential, municipal, and agricultural. There are currently no recognized methods for eliminating cyanobacteria in water. The only option is to reduce that nutrients that allow it to grow so profusely.

A Blue-green Algae bloom.

What is being done to lower phosphorus levels in Lake Champlain?
The states of Vermont and New York along with the provence of Quebec are working together to try to dramatically reduce the amount of phosphates that run into Lake Champlain. Vermont has initiated a "Clean and Clear" Program, a detailed description of which can be found at Clean and Clear Action Plan Overview . It's immediate focus is on Mississquoi and St. Albans Bays which together contribute 50% of the total non point source nutrient run off that needs to be reduced by the state of Vermont.

Numerous actions have already been taken to reduce phosphorus pollution in the Lake. Many farmers have instituted best management practices (BMP’s).These include nutrient and waste management. Manure, rich in nutrients, is now stored in pits until it is ready to be spread as fertilizer for the fields. It is no longer spread on the fields during the winter when a sudden heavy rain or thaw can wash it directly into the streams and rivers that feed into Lake Champlain. Spreading manure must wait until after the snow melts and the ground thaws in the spring . Another BMP is to plant a buffer of riparian plants between farm fields and the stream or river banks that abut them so that the plants can help filter out the excess phosphorus from the fields before it enters the water.

Other programs address the problem of reducing phosphorus runoff from lawns and roads in developed areas. On an acre per acre basis, developed land contributes about 3.5 times as much phosphorus to the Lake as does agricultural land. For more information on the reduction of phosphorus levels and BMPs, please consult our info page on phosphorus.

What is the Land Trust doing to reduce phosphorus in the Lake? The work of the Lake Champlain Land Trust plays an important role in helping to reduce lake phosphorus levels. Over the past 26 years, we have conserved over 4,000 acres and 16 miles of shoreline. This undeveloped land is both an important barrier and a non-contributor of phosphorous.

What are the symptoms of exposure to blue-green algae? If you develop symptoms (see list) following exposure to water from Lake Champlain, immediately stop any further exposure. Rinse skin with clean water. If symptoms persist after a few days, or your health status worries you, consult your doctor. Note that these symptoms may be caused by other factors (eg, fecal matter in water, swimmer's itch).

Exposure Symptoms:

By ingestion	By direct contact	More rarely
Stomach ache Nausea Diarrhea Vomiting	Skin irritation Nose irritation Throat irritation Eye irritation	Dizziness Headache Fever Liver damage Nervous system damage

Contacts for more information or to report a bloom:
Dr. Bill Bress, State Toxicologist Vermont Department of Health 108 Cherry Street Burlington, VT 05401 (802) 863-7220	Dr. Mary Watzin/Emily Brines UVM School of Natural Resources Burlington, VT 05405 (802) 656-4057 or (802) 859-3036
Doug Burnham Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation Water Quality Division 802-241-3784

Other Blue Green Algae Resources on the Internet:

Lake Champlain Basin Program - Printable Fact Sheets
Lake Champlain Committee
Lake Champlain Project
Vermont Agency of Natural Resources
State of Vermont - Clean and Clear - (New) Clean and Clear Action Plan Website
Clean and Clear Action Plan Overview
Vermont Water Quality
Blue Green Algae and Their Toxins - This site has a good general and comprehensive description of blue-green algae
Seventh Generation Products - Phosphate Free Cleaning products
Gardeners Supply - Low phosphorus fertilizer

Saving Our Lakeshore and Natural Areas
Lake Champlain Land Trust One Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401 802.862.4150 or info@LCLT.org