Lake Vegetation & Algae Update-July 24h , 2026

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🌿 Lake Vegetation & Algae Update for the Community

We’ve received several questions about the recent vegetation and algae activity on the lake, so we want to provide a clear explanation of what’s happening, why it’s normal, and what the long‑term plan continues to be.

✅ What You’re Seeing Right Now

Based on the current lake conditions, we are seeing:

  • Southern Naiad (a native submerged plant)
  • Duckweed (a floating plant common in nutrient‑rich lakes)
  • Filamentous Green Algae (the foamy, bright‑green, stringy algae that forms mats and can float)

These are all typical for shallow, nutrient‑rich lakes during hot summer weather.  Filamentous green algae is not Blue Green Algae also known as cyanobacteria, which is a soupy blue / green bacterium with the consistency of pea soup. What we are seeing should not be harmful to swimmers, boaters (though thicker, shallow weeds can get in props), or pets. That said, remember, you are swimming and participating in activities in a lake with water that contains organic and non-organic materials (vs. a pool that is a contained environment). Some people or animals may have sensitivities to lake water for a variety of reasons. Also, know that water conditions can change with rain, storm water runoff, and continued high air and high water temperatures.

🔄 Why This Happens — The Seasonal Cycle

This seasonal succession is extremely common in lakes like ours — shallow, warm, and nutrient‑rich. Upon further observation using drone photos (thanks Noel Runkle), it is clear that there are a few coves (Quantrill’s, Waterfall, Union), where the weed growth is very heavy. Most other coves are pretty standard for this time of year. That is not to say you won’t see it around your dock or don’t have weeds. Most coves are experiencing fairly normal seasonal growth. Of course conditions can change.

🛠️ Planned Long‑Term Solutions and Short-Term Remedies

Based on input from the biologists and professional advisors from Allstate Engineering and the University Missouri Extension Office, the primary meaningful management strategies are long-term strategies that we have in place. We will continue to consult with experts regularly to ensure that our plan is on track. There are also some Short-term remedies that they advise are very temporary solutions:

 

LONG-TERM STRATEGIES

 

  • Reducing phosphate levels by removing nutrient‑rich silt through mitigation and dredging. This is the “big picture” work that actually improves water quality over time. Everything else is temporary. The dredge will be working in Quantrill’s and Waterfall Coves in the next month with plans of making a single pass down the center of each to help with weed mitigation and silt removal. It will then return to the normal dredging plan and activities.
  • Continue to consult with biologists and experts to ensure our plan is the best plan.
  • Managed Grass Carp stocking and not overstocking. Rely on expert estimates. 300 were added in July. More could be added but needs to be advised. Understand that weeds go away in two months, grass carp stay for up to 10 years and need a food source.
  • Reducing phosphorus fertilizers: When possible use only fertilizers that do not contain phosphate. While most of our phosphate excess is due to local farm runoff, when we can lower the phosphates in any rain runoff, we make progress.

 

Short-term, temporary remedies

 

  • Raking around docks: Not simple, temporary unknown length of impact, requires placing weeds on seawall or other places away from water to make sure the plant is removed from the water and doesn’t find its way back. Fragments can create more seeds and weeds which is why this is a temporary solution. Services are available through local providers.
  • Once operational, use Moss Machine/Weed harvester in selected high growth areas. This will not be a remedy between docks. Effectiveness is limited to surface weeds up to 3ft below surface.

 

NOT A REMEDY OR AN OPTION

 

  • USING ANY CHEMICALS OR HERBICIDES IN THE LAKE OR AROUND YOUR DOCK IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED and can be assessed 15 points resulting in a 1-year suspension of lake access.

🐟 Why We Don’t Spray Herbicides

Many have asked why we don’t “just spray it.” Here’s why:

  • We need vegetation in the lake. It stabilizes sediment and supports fish habitat.  We cannot repeat historical mistakes and wipe out all the aquatic vegetation.
  • Grass Carp are in place to maintain vegetation at a reasonable level naturally, however, will take a few years to stabilize with a long-term stocking plan. It is important to remember that the weeds will die in September but any carp we add will not. They live on and will still need a food source. Adding too many carp for isolated heavy weed growth would create an unhealthy imbalance to the overall system. Using herbicides kills weed that carp eat disrupting the ecosystem.
  • Herbicides kill plants but don’t solve the root problem — the issue is excess nutrients in the sediment.
  • Spraying algae or trying to chemically “bind” phosphate is not cost‑effective and provides only temporary cosmetic results that do not last.

Short‑term chemical treatments would spend money without addressing the underlying cause, so we are focusing all efforts on dredging, silt mitigation, along with Grass Carp.

Why Avoiding Herbicides Is the Right Call for Our Lake

Given our lake’s depth, nutrient load, and warm summer temperatures, herbicide use would:

  • Create short‑term cosmetic improvement.
  • Cause long‑term ecological setbacks.
  • Potentially cause INCREASED algae growth.
  • Stress the fishery.
  • Work against our Grass Carp management strategy.

📌 Summary

  • What we’re seeing is normal for this time of year. Some coves are dealing with very large blooms which is not normal and the result of high phosphate and other nutrients in the water along with heavy spring rain, clear water (zebra mussel related), and warm water conditions.
  • Raking weeds around docks, using some of the various service providers on the lake to rake, and dredging operations will help the issue. Use of the Moss/Weed machine once operational will have a limited and temporary effect and be prioritized for high-growth areas.
  • The vegetation and algae are part of a predictable ecological cycle. We need aquatic plants in the lake for overall health.
  • Grass Carp help maintain balance without chemicals. Careful management of numbers needs to be recognized as the fish will be around for 7-10 years needing to feed while the grass will be around for a couple of months.
  • Our focus remains on nutrient reduction through dredging and not short‑term spraying that could have long-term negative effects on the lake habitat and ecosystem. We will continue to gather expert advice for our long-term plan and short-term remedies for managing lake vegetation and the ecosystem.