The City of Centralia is taking action early this year to prevent blue-green algae bloom in Centralia Lake. The toxin it produces can cause rashes and make people and pets sick.
In an outbreak on the lake last year, at least one dog died from exposure.
With warming air and water temperatures, the City of Centralia will be applying a commercial algaecide known as EarthTec at Lake Centralia. The product is registered with the US EPA as an approved algaecide and bactericide. The liquid product will be spray-applied to the water surface. The application rate is intended to yield approximately 0.1 parts per million Copper ion into the top two feet of water. The Copper inhibits the growth of nuisance algae and ‘blue-green algae’.
The 0.1 parts per million Copper dosage is far below the maximum one part per million copper dosage for this purpose. The Copper dosage is not considered to be harmful to humans or fish.
Centralia officials plan to apply the algaecide on multiple occasions depending on water quality parameters such as pH and dissolved oxygen concentration, in addition to observing visual conditions such as the presence of floating biomass potentially comprised of aquatic plant growth such as nuisance algal and ‘blue-green algae’ blooms.
You can contact the Centralia City Manager’s office for more information.
