Clean Water Fund leads to Blue Lake's Alum Treatment Success
We completed the first-ever alum treatment in Isanti County on Blue Lake in September. Over a few days, a small barge went back and forth, injecting alum into the water over the deepest parts of the lake. During the application period, the alum sank to the bottom and collected algae and phosphorus as it descended. The alum on the lake's bottom acts as a barrier to prevent more phosphorus from releasing into the lake from the sediments. This treatment comes after years of installing projects near the lake to reduce phosphorus run-off as part of a larger goal to protect Blue Lake. Both phases were partially funded by a Clean Water Fund Grant which is awarded by the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR).
BWSR was one of the many curious visitors that came to see the treatment. While at Blue Lake, they filmed a video about the treatment. BWSR also published a story detailing our current and past work on Blue Lake, how the Clean Water Fund plays a role in our work, and how people came together to make the alum treatment a reality. Click either image below to watch the video or read the story!
