What are those Green Blobs in the Lake? Gloeotrichia ID Training!

We are looking for some new volunteers to supplement our current dedicated volunteers. In Great Pond and Long Pond, one of the most nuisance forms of algae that we have is a cyanobacteria (or blue-green algae) called Gloeotrichia, or gloeo (pronounced GLEE-oh) for short. Beyond being a nuisance, gloeo can also cause some lake users to get itchy skin when they go swimming. In very high abundances, gloeo can produce toxins. 

Gloeo typically blooms along the shoreline. What this means is that our standard water quality monitoring in the middle of each lake does not often capture the magnitude of these blooms. Since 2005, volunteers on Great Pond and Long Pond have been making observations of Gloeo off their docks through the summer. We currently have over 5000 recorded observations on both lakes!

If you have observed gloeo on your property or on lakes you visit, come to this training and learn how you can make a difference in the lakes with just five minutes per day. Linda Bacon from the Maine DEP will train new volunteers (and returning volunteers who would like a refresher!) on how to take these measurements. If you would like to volunteer, but can’t make the training session, please e-mail danielle.wain@7lakesalliance.org to make other arrangements for training.