Milford Lake was the location for a hydrogen peroxide based algaecide treatment on harmful algae blooms on Tuesday, July 28.
The effort is part of a long running partnership between the Kansas Department of Health & environment, Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism and the Corps of Engineers to address harmful algae blooms.
The project is part of the KDHE effort to investigate and demonstrate in-lake treatment options to reduce the frequency and duration of HAB events on public waters. There was support from the corps of engineers NWK for the treatment that include coordination with Clay County Parks and Fort Riley to establish starting areas, input on study and communication plans, monitoring of current HAB and to assist KDHE and the Environmental Protection Agency with the collection of water samples. Samples were collected before the treatment and during the treatment process, and those will be compared with post-treatment samples to assess the effectiveness of the project. The treatment area covered approximately 245 surface acres.
According to a release from the Corps of Engineers it was apparent that the treatment did work although southerly winds kept drifting additional blue green algae into the treated area.
Blue green algae can appear or disappear suddenly and move as the wind shift. Boaters should use caution and move to a clear portion of the lake.