Hope Keyser: Continue to report cyanobacteria blooms to NH’s DES

To The Daily Sun,

Cyanobacteria is slowly affecting the quality of Lake Winnipesaukee and might affect the amount of tourists coming to the towns around the lake. Cyanobacteria blooms produce toxins which cause a variety of bad symptoms, like rashes, nausea, etc., to whoever swims near it. Kids and pets have a higher risk, and because of their indigestion, they can accidentally swallow the contaminated water.

Because of the health risks of cyanobacteria, it is important for people to understand the risks of swimming in it and to raise awareness to try and stop it from spreading. Cyanobacteria is caused by warm water and high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen. But it is also caused by water running off from the road which is caused by cars and people pushing things like animal waste and fertilizer into the water. The chemicals in the fertilizer on people's lawn who live on the lake run off their lawn into the water and it's one of the main causes of cyanobacteria. It is important, even for people who live in New Hampshire part time, to be careful of the chemicals they put in their gardens and lawns because it is causing a larger amount of cyanobacteria growing in the lake. Make sure to clean up chemicals and fertilizer so they don’t continue running into the lake.

It is important to report cyanobacteria if readers see it at the lake and call New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services at 848-8094 so it doesn’t spread and contaminate people.

Hope Keyser

Moultonborough