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Alum Treatment Update
11/2007 

The alum treatment was successfully and safely completed on September 19 & 20 applying the last 33,705 gallons of the total treatment begun last September.  This completes the application expected to significantly reduce the large amount of phosphorus released during the summer from our deep-water bottom sediments and to reduce the excessive late summer algae blooms on our lake.  The treatment is expected to last 7-15 years. 

Preliminary results to date for the summer of 2007, show the expected marked reductions in the release of phosphorus from the bottom sediments versus prior years, and resultant reduced late summer algae.  However, our lake did suffer from a severe and very unusual shallow water bloom of Gloeotrichia algae in July.  This algae comes from spores that can lie dormant on shallow lake bottoms for years awaiting optimal temperature/light conditions to suddenly bloom.  It takes its nutrients directly from shallow water sediments (not the water column), and was thus, unaffected by our treatment.  Hopefully, Gloeotrichia blooms will remain a very unusual event for our lake.  

We will continue to track the results of our alum treatment in future years and report results to you as available.  For now, we remain very optimistic that the treatment will perform as intended, and reduce significantly, future late summer algae blooms for the benefit of all lake users. 

Our thanks to the Richmond & Canadice Town Boards, Ontario County Planning, Princeton Hydro, Honeoye Lake Watershed Task Force, Honeoye Valley Association, DEC, Representative Joe Errigo, Senator Dale Volker, NYS Dept. of State, other civic organizations, and the countless committed volunteers in getting this community project successfully accomplished.