Latest news with #algae
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
‘Absolute nightmare': Chautauqua Lake homeowners voice concerns over algae, weeds
CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY, N.Y. (WIVB) — Homeowners on Chautauqua Lake are voicing concerns over the rapid growth of weeds and algae that have taken over the lake throughout the past few years. During the Fourth of July weekend, The Lomas family, who has a place on Chautauqua Lake, said the Fourth of July weekend is typically busy for the bay they're in. 'Last year we had the boat out. We had the kids tubing in the lake. My grandson had his jet ski out in the lake and having a good time taking the little ones for a ride,' Nancy Lomas said. 'We did none of that this weekend, none of that — just couldn't get the boat out. There were very few boats. If there were, they were trying to get out of our bay.' The Lomas family has had a place on Burtis Bay for 26 years. Nancy said this weekend she tried to take the boat out, but it got clogged with weeds and started to overheat. 'When we bought it, there were some weeds, but it was nothing like this. I mean [it's an] absolute nightmare,' Steven Lomas said. 'We were backed up. Everybody sat and just looked at the weed growth.' Burtis Bay is the southern basin of Chautauqua Lake, and the Lomas' are not the only homeowners in the bay that are feeling left in the weeds. 'Everything that the Chatauqua Lake Association harvests and cuts comes in here,' said Lisa Masters, a homeowner on Burtis Bay. 'Last year, the lake was perfect, the boating was clear, everything was great. This year, it's horrible.' As of Jan. 1, Burtis Bay was designated as a wetland. What is dirtying up Chautauqua Lake and what's being done about it? An update on the Jefferson Project 'We want a healthy lake. We are not against wetlands, but this is a developed area,' said Kathy Yanus, a homeowner on the bay. 'It does not make sense. The wetland regulation does not make sense for every little area of this lake. It has to change.' Senator George Borrello believes the wetlands were not a setback, saying they issued more herbicide permits this year than they ever have. 'The fact that for the first time, the Chautauqua Lake Association was required to get permits to to harvest the weeds and didn't do so, I think it's the major contributor to the problems of Burtis Bay right now,' Borrello said. 'They told me they were delayed a little bit this year in being able to harvest that area because there were herbicides applied to that zone earlier and you have to wait until a certain amount of time passes before you can put any type of mechanical devices on there,' said John Shedd, the vice president of campus planning and operations at the Chautauqua Institution. Borrello believes there needs to be more cooperation and more accountability for the organizations who are working on the lake. 'The most toxic thing isn't the harmful algal blooms in Chautauqua Lake, it's the politics of all the lake organizations that can't get along,' he said. 'There's a lot of people working to solve this and we're all working in a pretty coordinated effort,' Shedd said. 'It's just going to take a while. People have to have patience because it took hundreds of years to create this problem and we're going to have quite a few years to solve it.' Shedd said there are a bunch of organizations working together for Chautauqua Lake, including the Watershed Management Alliance, the Jefferson Project, the DEC, the Army Corp of Engineers, researchers from SUNY Fredonia, Bowling Green University and North Carolina State. 'We're all working together. There's a bunch of organizations,' he said. 'Most of us are working under an organization called Chautauqua Lake Water Shed Management Alliance, which is a county entity that has a board and they provide funding through different funding sources grants, states and local funding.' WIVB News 4 has reached out the Chautauqua Lake Association requesting an interview and has not heard back from them at this time. Hope Winter is a reporter and multimedia journalist who has been part of the News 4 team since 2021. See more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Vogue
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Vogue
It's Alive! Iris Van Herpen's Latest Innovation? A Dress Made From 125 Million Bioluminescent Algae
As fittings were underway on Saturday, Van Herpen and her latest collaborator, Chris Bellamy, gave Vogue a preview of the creation. Like some kind of otherworldly specimen on display, the dress and pant ensemble hung inside a box carefully controlled with light—exactly the wavelength where the algae are found 50 meters below sea level—and humidity, with a cloud of cold steam pooling around the base. Photo: Molly SJ Lowe/ Courtesy of Iris Van Herpen Photo: Molly SJ Lowe/ Courtesy of Iris Van Herpen In this daylight setting, the dimensional pattern was not illuminated, but milky white with a trace of blue; an imperfect comparison might be glow-in-the-dark stickers that have a greenish tinge. Like humans, pyrocystis lunula need 'sleep' and have their own light cycles like our Circadian rhythms. In the wild, they emit light in response to movement and/or when they sense predators. No word yet who Van Herpen is casting to wear the look or how the model will provoke the flash of light. Yet with Van Herpen standing on one side of the box and Bellamy on the other, they explained how they first connected in February, some two years after Bellamy began his research in French Polynesia (he still travels there while also working in France, the UK and Amsterdam, where Van Herpen is based). Once they agreed to advance on the project, Bellamy got to work on the algae farm—essentially a chamber of controlled light where the microorganisms grow in seawater, doubling in quantity every two weeks. After enough time, there was 20 liters of algae—a little more than a half-filled bathtub. Going from a liquid state to a solid that could be injected into Van Herpen's custom molds involved transferring the algae to a seaweed nutrient gel—some 50 were tested to arrive at the right texture, color, and overall balance—and coating the forms with a protective membrane that's breathable and allows them to live and glow. In total, this turned into a roughly 35-step process with support from the University of Amsterdam and the Francis Crick Institute for biomedical research. After significant trial and error, not to mention attaching the pattern to an illusion mesh second skin, they said they reached the successful outcome—'it worked,' said Bellamy—about a month ago. The garments are now stored according to precisely controlled conditions that correspond to the algae's native environment, such as temperature, light, humidity and rhythm. The organisms can continue to mate and reproduce inside the garment forms, making the dress brighter and brighter. As for an odor, Bellamy replies, 'No, you can just smell the seawater.'
Bloomberg
3 days ago
- Climate
- Bloomberg
Parisians Take a Historic Plunge Into the Seine After 100 Years
PARIS (AP) — Cries of 'It is warm!' rang out across the Seine on Saturday morning as Parisians jumped into the river — legally — for the first time in more than 100 years. Public swimming was allowed in designated areas of the Seine, including two newly built wooden decks near the Eiffel Tower and the Île Saint-Louis in central Paris. Before sunrise, a municipal officer skimmed away the last few patches of algae with a fishnet. Soon after, a line of eager Parisians formed, towels in hand, waiting for their chance to jump in.
CBC
16-06-2025
- Science
- CBC
Pilot project uses nanobubble technology to battle algae blooms in Manitoba lake
After years of trying everything from aerators to chemical treatments, a southwestern Manitobalake plagued by stubborn algae is testing a new solution — bubbles too small to see. Betty Sawatzky, Killarney Lake Action Committee chair, said cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, is a problem in Prairie lakes. "It's a turquoise colour and it's toxic," she said. "You're at the mercy of the wind, at the heat, humidity, the nutrients that go into the lake." To improve water quality and prevent harmful algae growth, a nanobubble unit is being installed in Lake Killarney. Sawatzky said the pilot project is the first of its kind in Manitoba and uses technology that infuses water with ultra-fine oxygen bubbles, which stay suspended longer than traditional aeration systems. Sawatzky said that helps disrupt the conditions that fuel algae blooms. The project is part of a broader push to find eco-friendly, science-backed solutions that support the lake's ecosystem. Past efforts to deal with problem Lake Killarney has struggled with algae blooms for years, leading to beach closures and fish kills, Sawatzky said. An aeration system added in 2017 helped prevent closures and fish deaths, but algae still return. Sawatzky said the nanobubble system uses the same concept as the current aeration system — just on a much smaller scale. It disperses bubbles throughout all levels of the lake to reduce the available phosphorus that feeds algae blooms. "You've got those tiny micro bubbles at the bottom, in the middle and towards the top ... It can work to break down those extra nutrients that feed the cyanobacteria that feed the algal blooms," she said. "If you can stop the food source of these algal blooms ... You solve your problem." After three years of research to find an eco-friendly and cost-friendly solution for the algae, the committee partnered with Calgary's SWAT Water Technology to test nanobubble technology in a six-month pilot project, said volunteer Shane Warnez. The unit, which was placed in a small section of the lake known as The Bay Friday, is just a little bigger than a dehumidifier and has two hoses. One draws water in and injects it with oxygen bubbles, and the other hose sends it back into the lake. Warnez said the lake may look worse at first, with some foaming, but if it works, the water should clear. "It'll be very obvious because there will be less algae and as a result, the lake will look a lot cleaner and clearer," he said. "It's really esthetics that we're looking at." Water testing will track phosphorus and dissolved oxygen levels. The trial cost about $11,000, with SWAT Water Technology lending the machine at no cost. The main expenses are water testing and about $2,500 in electricity, which the local agricultural society is covering. Community watching closely Cheryl Burke, who co-manages the nearby Kerry Park Campground, said algae has hurt tourism over the years. "At the beginning of the season, it's good. And then as soon as the heat hits it, it's green," Burke said. "I think we'd attract more people to the community if our lake wasn't green." She remembers the 1990s when the water was clear and the beach was full. She said algae can get so bad these days that people hesitate to let their dogs swim in the lake. The community is hopeful and is watching the pilot project closely, Burke said. For now, the unit remains on the east side of the lake in The Bay, Sawatzky said. If things start to change for the better, he said it would hopefully trigger the go-ahead to install additional units across the lake.
The Sun
06-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
Gardeners are being urged to put a penny in their bird bath this summer for important reason
PLACING a penny in your bird bath can have an unexpected benefit this summer. This simple and extremely cheap step can help to transform your garden decor, and help attract more birds. 2 As well as serving as a stylish feature, bird baths have a positive impact on your outdoor space. They attract birds to your garden, helping to control the amount of insects in your flowerbeds. However, they also tend to become a breeding ground for algae. But according to experts, there is a quick trick which can solve this problem, and there's no scrubbing involved.. The solution is also extremely cost-effective, as all you need is one penny. According to the experts at Homes and Gardens, throwing a penny into your bird bath can help to ward off algae. "The copper present in pre-1982 one or two-penny coins triggers a chemical reaction in your bird bath's water," the pros explained. They continued on to say that this "acts to naturally fend off the development of algae". Rocky Trifari, a bird enthusiast and owner of The Rocky Safari, spoke to the publication about the benefits of the hack. "Copper is a natural biocide with properties that interfere with the biological processes algae and other microorganisms rely on," the expert said. I hate my new build garden being overlooked so found a 5 METRE privacy fence to block out nosy neighbours for under £30 "When copper ions leach into the water, they promote an environment that discourages the growth of green algae, one of the main causes of that slimy, dirty water found in birdbaths." Make sure your pennies are free of rust or corrosion before adding them to your bird bath. Since birds drink and bathe in the water, prolonged exposure to these elements could cause health risks. While pennies won't act as a permanent solution to algae, they can definitely help reduce growth. What does the RSPB think? The organisation said: "Birds need water for drinking and bathing. "There are many ways of providing water in the garden, but the simplest? A bird bath. "Many people put food out for birds, but fewer provide a regular supply of clean water. Birds need water for drinking and bathing. "Bird baths are particularly important in weather extremes: During winter when natural supplies may be frozen, and in dry conditions such as hot summers with weeks of no rain. "But being small and enclosed, bird baths can easily become dirty and stagnant, and even dangerous, without regular cleaning. "Make sure you change the water in your bird bath daily and give bird baths a thorough clean once a week to help prevent the spread of disease." How to encourage wildlife into your garden THE Woodland Trust shared five top tips 1. Grow wild Let nature take its course to create a more attractive environment for all things wild. You don't have to leave your plot to develop into a small jungle – wildlife will thank you for just a small corner, border or planter. 2. Plant trees and shrubs Research has shown that gardens are more attractive to wildlife if they have trees. And those trees can bring a host of other benefits too, from reducing noise and flooding to fighting climate change. 3. Create homes If you want to attract a particular species, a ready-made home can look especially appealing to any wildlife passing through. 4. Offer a water source Water is crucial for wildlife. Making some available in your garden could be a lifeline, especially in extreme weather. 5. Serve an extra meal One of the best ways to persuade a plethora of wildlife to your patch is to give them access to an easy meal. Other cleaning hacks and gardening tips A £1 buy can also be used to transform your mouldy outdoor furniture. Alternatively, a kitchen ingredient can also be used to scrub up your garden set. Another budget buy is also said to leave your outdoor garden set gleaming in time for summer. Or you can opt to clean your garden furniture in seconds with a DIY hack. And an 80p hack helps to lift stubborn algae from your garden surfaces. 2
