Short term cleanup underway

Solitude Lake Solutions is currently at Fresh Pond removing decaying lily pad leaves and stems and potentially harmful algal mats. We expect this activity to trigger regrowth and we will be watching the pond’s response, and we will be noting changes in water clarity over the weeks ahead.

We will continue our biweekly surface and deep water sampling and record collection through the Citizen’s Statewide Lake Assessment Program, sending samples to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for analysis, as we have for years.

Additionally, the Fresh Pond Neighbors Association is collecting water samples in the public access are before, during, and after harvesting efforts. These sample will be analyzed at the Jahn Laboratory at Syracuse University College of Environmental Science for to identify any possible release and dispersal of toxins during and after the clearnup. We will keep you posted here and on our data page.

The pond is currently still greenish indicating that nutrient levels (primarily phosphorus) are high enough in the upper layer of the pond to sustain normal algal photosynthesis. In past years, regrowth after harvesting has been folloed by a substantial increase in clarity as a likely result of competition for and exhaustion of nutrients.

Please keep children and pets clear during this necessary maintenance time. Enjoy your pond, outside of the bloom!