Water Quality Improvements Planned for Sweeney Lake

The Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission plans two phases of treatments to help improve the water quality of Sweeney Lake in Golden Valley. The lake is on the state’s impaired waters list. First, they’ll remove common carp. Then, they’ll treat the lake with alum to remove phosphorous.

“Sweeney Lake does not meet water quality standards and it hasn’t for a long time,” explained Laura Jester with the Bassett Creek Watershed Commission. “It has lots of algae blooms, sometimes harmful algae blooms and the water quality is just not very good.”

Jester says one factor contributing to the diminished water quality is that Schaper Pond, which feeds into Sweeney Lake, is a perfect breeding ground for common carp. Carp are an invasive species that eats all native vegetation and pollutes the water quality.  The carp will be removed from the lake.

Then, they’ll be treating the lake with alum or aluminum sulfate.

“It gets put into the water and binds with the phosphorus in the water,” explains Jester. “It creates a layer on the bottom of the lake that’s impenetrable and it doesn’t allow that phosphorus to grow all of the algae that’s in the water.”

An algae bloom is generally an eyesore, but it can actually be harmful too.

“Harmful algae blooms can be toxic to pets and even swimmers,” said Jester.  “That’s a concern.”

Jester says the algae blooms can affect the ecosystem of the entire lake.  The Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission received a grant to help with this project.

You can learn more about the Sweeney Lake Project by clicking here.

Golden Valley