State explains next steps for Grand Lake

CELINA — The effort is under way to fix the problems of Grand Lake St. Marys. Now it comes down to seeing which fix works best.

Earlier this year, accusations flew that nothing was being done to improve conditions at Grand Lake. Since then, four test projects have been launched on the lake and another in one of its tributary streams. All are aimed at reducing the blue-green algae that has literally choked the life out of the lake in recent months.

Representatives from the Ohio Departments of Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Health, and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency met with and the public Tuesday night to outline those efforts and receive feedback from that same public that doubted they would act.

“When we came here the last time we told you we would be back. Well, we’re back and we have not been idle since and we will not be idle after tonight,” Ohio EPA Director Chris Korleski told the crowd of about 250 people gathered at the Celina High School gymnasium.

Representatives from the state agencies laid out the plans for the lake, beginning with the cause of the current crisis.

The problems at Grand Lake have been building for years, but peaked this summer when the buildup of the bacteria called blue-green algae bloomed, killing fish and resulting in a foul smell and a buildup of toxins that have been tied to the death of at least one dog and even human illness around the lake.

The state issued a series of warnings through the summer, eventually issuing an advisory in July warning people against boating, fishing, and having any contact with the water.

The Ohio Department of Health has tracked 21 reports of lake-related illnesses, according to Dr. Alvin Jackson, director of the Ohio Department of Health. Of those, six are considered probable — meaning they are most likely related to Grand lake water — five others were still under investigation, and the rest were declared unrelated.

Since that time, the state agencies have been working with local government and the Lake Restoration Commission to raise money and brainstorm solutions. The fact that the groups managed to come together is the one bright spot in the event, according to ODNR Director Sean Logan.

“If there’s a silver lining, it is that neighbors are starting to help neighbors and there has been a greater cooperation between state and other agencies than I’ve ever seen,” Logan said.

Projects currently under way in the lake include a silica treatment designed by Algaeventure Systems Inc. and funded by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. The project, which began in late August, involves adding sand to a 2.5-acre area near the Celina lighthouse with the hopes of increasing the amount of nontoxic green algae, which will hopefully out-compete the toxic version. Results from the project should be known in the next 60 days.

The Ohio EPA is funding a second project that involves spraying liquid alum in select areas around the lake. The alum is expected to bind to the phosphorous that feeds the bacteria and carry it to the lake bottom. If the test project works, the whole lake will be sprayed with alum next spring to prevent a bloom next year.

The EPA will begin spraying the alum the week of Sept. 20 in six locations covering a total of 53 acres.

Other projects taking place this summer include a floating wetlands development and treatment train installed in the Prairie Creek embayment at the lake to reduce sediment and nutrients going into the lake; two aeration systems called Airy-Gators installed to improve dissolved oxygen levels in the water column and reduce blue-green algae in those areas; and an in-stream sediment trap in Chickasaw Creek near state Route 219.

To Tom Miller, who attended Tuesday’s meeting with his wife, the state efforts were a good start, but might be missing the point. Miller, like a number of those who submitted questions during the public hearing, said he believes the ultimate answer would be to dredge the lake.

“It’s so simple. They say it can’t be done, but I’ve heard it can,” Miller said.

Korleski said he has doubts a full dredging of the lake would be feasible, either financially or logistically. But that doesn’t mean he’s not willing to listen if someone comes up with a way to make it happen.

“If anybody has an idea of ways they can dredge the lake and do it cost-effectively, we’ll listen,” Korleski said.