Now That's Tough Algae

While Lake Herman remains relatively clear (coliform bacteria aren't green), Pelican Lake up by Watertown apparently has some really mean algae. KJAM reports on mysteriously calm water up north. Residents reported that even on a day with wind gusts up to 35 miles per hour, where whitecaps should have roiled across the water, there was very little wave action on Pelican Lake. State DENR specialist Ken Madison says a big diatom bloom, fed by high nitrate and phosphorous levels in the lake (that's usually farm fertilizer and waste run-off).

Now wind and water can move boulders and eat away shorelines on our lakes. Algae that can stave off 35-mph winds and keep the lake smooth is mighty tough algae. We joke about our summer algae blooms being so thick you can walk on them. If that Pelican Lake algae keeps up, we may not be joking.