The Crow Wing Soil and Water Conservation is working with the city of Deerwood and Serpent Lake Association to complete aluminum sulfate treatment to Cranberry Lake.
"Cranberry Lake has a legacy of excess phosphorus inputs from wastewater discharge," said Melissa Barrick, district manager, in a news release. "Cranberry Lake has a direct connection with Serpent Lake under Highway 210. A two-year study determined Cranberry Lake to have highest amount of runoff going into Serpent Lake (57 pounds per year)."
Scientific studies show that aluminum sulfate is safe for fish, invertebrates, and humans. Aluminum sulfate is one of the naturally occurring substances that attract and bind excess phosphorus. Reducing phosphorus concentrations in lake water can have a similar clarifying effect by limiting the availability of this nutrient for algae production.
The treatment is planned for Monday and Tuesday. Boats with large tanks and sprayers will apply aluminum sulfate to Cranberry Lake, Deerwood. This project is part of $1.2 million grant to reduce runoff to Serpent Lake. Funding for this project is in part by the Clean Water Land Legacy Amendment through the Board of Water and Soil Resources Targeted Watershed and Serpent Lake Association.
For more information, visit www.crowwingswcd.org , email melissa.barrick@crowwingswcd.org or call the SWCD at 218-828-6197.
