Half Moon Lake get less pollutanty?
Do you remember last summer when there were sporadic announcements proclaiming which lakes you could swim in that afternoon? Like, every day? Like, every minute? Something about biological this or that or bacteria something, and your kids could sprout an extra eyeball?
Well, they’ve done something about that.
While you are asleep at night the Half Moon Lake Total Maximum Daily Load Implementation Plan is protecting our lakes. The HMLTMDLIP (for short) checks up on how many pollutants a body of water receives. Pollutants can be local, transfered from Europe, or harmful runoff from surrounding farms. Or, you know, from alien ship crash landings.
Above this, they determine which lakes fail to meet water quality standards and they create plans to clean up these lakes. For example, in 2009, Half Moon Lake began a chemical treatment to control aquatic invasive plants including curlyleaf pondweed and the Eurasian water milfoil.
People, seriously – curlyleaf pondweed may sound like a kick-ass Hobbit name, but it's no joke. It's a very invasive species that destroys our natural habitats. In spring of this year, the lake underwent an alum treatment that slowly removed harmful phosphorus from the water. They hope this will lead to greater recreational opportunities for families.
Cleaning up scummy lakes is a continual effort. Want to know how you can help? Check this out.