A green, slime-like algae floating on Lake Weeroona’s surface may look unsightly but it has not come hand-in-hand with the problems the Bendigo Rowing Club faced last summer, the group’s president says.
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Non-toxic algae had been seen spread across large parts of the lake’s surface.
Rowing club president Peter Morison said the gloopy substance had not stopped boats rowing over summer.
“If it got any thicker it could become an issue,” he said.
The club was considering different ways to keep lanes clear and Mr Morison was unsure when the algae would clear.
“It’s a bit of an unknown. I haven’t seen this before. We’d expect the weeds (growing under the water’s surface) to die off soon. I’d assume (the algae) will die off when the weeds do, but we will have to wait and see,” he said.
“Interestingly, after that wind came in from the south a week or so ago the slime completely disappeared.”
City of Greater Bendigo acting manager of parks and open space Orrin Hogan said the algae was not of the toxic blue-green variety.
He believed that there was currently a “minimal amount” of blue-green algae in the lake.
“This (non-toxic algae) is very different. Blue-green algae sits on the surface as more of a paint-like scum,” he said.
The council monitored the lake closely and notified people of any dangers, Mr Hogan said.
He said it was important to remember the shallow, man-made ornamental lake was an ideal candidate for water quality problems, especially when the weather warmed.
Last summer an “explosion” of weeds imperiled the club at a critical time of year for training. The weeds wrapped around the oars and keels of boats and made rowing difficult.
That problem was under control, with the council and rowing club working together to proactively clear lanes of weeds.
The lake had also been free of ibis-trouble this summer, Mr Morison said.
Last year an Australian White Ibis colony inundated Lake Weeroona, creating a foul smell.
The stench prompted the City of Greater Bendigo to clear nesting sites of vegetation once the breeding season ended.
The birds continued to appear at the lake but there had been no roosting on the island and no return of pungent odours, Mr Morison said.