Commissioners report algae bloom, fish kill at Sunset Lake and advise caution

Commissioners reported an algae bloom and a fish kill at Sunset Lake and told the public to avoid contact with the water while the situation is assessed. A commissioner who observed discolored water described contacting a university and said the state's HAB dashboard showed an advisory-level bloom; staff said water-circulation measures would be deployed.

During discussion, staff warned that some algae blooms release toxins and "people should not be in contact with the water because there are toxins that are released by the algae that can cause skin irritation and ... keep dogs out of the water," and recommended consulting the state's HAB dashboard for details. The speaker who provided the technical explanation (identified in the transcript as Doug) said the bloom dynamics (daytime oxygen production and nighttime oxygen depletion) help explain fish kills and that high nutrient loads and geese populations contribute to the problem.

Nut graf: Officials said the state HAB dashboard listed Sunset Lake at an advisory severity, that staff would deploy water-circulation fountains to help mitigate the bloom, and that they would continue to monitor for spread toward Deal Lake while noting that current lake elevations made immediate flow from Sunset into Deal unlikely.

Officials noted uncertainty about the level and toxicity of the bloom: staff said the advisory level does not necessarily confirm toxicity and that the state's guidance should be followed for specific precautions. No emergency closures, fines or formal enforcement actions were announced at the meeting; commissioners said they would follow the state's HAB guidance and keep the public informed.

The meeting proceeded after the discussion; the commission did not record a vote or directive beyond planned monitoring and immediate mitigation steps.