Feds receive letter regarding algae at reservoir
The City of Hillsboro provided a news release Tuesday to the Marion County Record regarding the recent algae outbreak at Marion Reservoir.
In the release, provided by Hillsboro City Administrator Steve Garrett, it stated the recent recurrence of algae blooms at Marion Reservoir has caused several Marion County residents to seek help from federal lawmakers.
Packets detailing the current situation and the requests from concerned residents are being delivered to members of Congress this week.
Large algae blooms first appeared in the reservoir last summer, stated the news release. The algae has been found to produce toxins which are harmful to humans. The cities of Hillsboro and Marion, which use the reservoir as a source for drinking water, altered their methods of water treatment to eliminate the possibility of toxins in their finished water.
Residents contend that, although the concerns over treating water for household use have been addressed, the quality of water at the reservoir still is a major concern.
"The reservoir is the major tourist destination in Marion County," said Garrett in the news release. "Over 400,000 people visit the reservoir annually. The economic impact of those visits to our county is great."
The residents are requesting that treatment of the algae blooms be allowed. Currently, treatment is not allowed by federal or state agencies.
"If these blooms were to be treated when they are first discovered, they would not spread to encompass such huge portions of the lake," said Hillsboro Mayor Delores Dalke. "As it is, the blooms are allowed to spread, causing some of the reservoir visitors to cancel their stays there."
Other requests being made by residents include continuation of beneficial programs and recreational cell count guidelines.
The algae blooms are caused by conditions that include temperature, weather, clarity of water, and nutrients. There are federal and state programs that exist that help reduce the amounts of nutrients in the reservoir.
"We have very little control over the elements that contribute to algae blooms except for nutrients," said Garrett. "These programs that address nutrients in the reservoir are important to continue."
Recreational cell count guidelines have been used in other parts of the United States to address human recreational contact in bodies of water afflicted with algae blooms. The group would like to see similar guidelines for Marion Reservoir.
"Our concerns is for continued safe use of our reservoir," Dalke concluded.
