Growth in lake adjacent to the 18th hole at The Peninsula Club

Sept. 27. By Dave Yochum. In the wake of a meeting at The Peninsula Club yesterday, local leaders will form a task force on a problem that is literally growing. Algae blooms known as Lyngbya wollei are apparently a threat to Lake Norman on the order of Hydrilla.

Former NC Sen. Jeff Tarte said state monies are available to fight the problem which has affected property values in other areas.

“In my last year in the Senate I had a bill passed that makes available $500,000 annually to specifically fight this type of problem in our lakes,” Tarte, a Cornelius lakefront resident, said. “And we do not spend anywhere near that much money each year on these concerns. So money is available.”

Jeff Tarte at a Newsmakers Breakfast

Mayor Woody Washam compared the situation to hydrilla, a lakewide concern ameliorated by stocking the lake with sterile grass carp.

“It is time to utilize already approved state funding to implement new and innovative methods of treatment to solve this ongoing problemn for our entire lake once and for all,” he said.

Neighbor to neighbor won’t work, Tarte said.

One of the forms of treatment is ultrasound waves, generated by underwater speaker systems.

Unsightly, smelly

Lyngbya forms large, dense mats that float on the surface. It can impact water intake at Duke Energy’s

Mayor Washam

McGuire Nuclear Station.

While there is no evidence of serious detrimental human or animal health effects caused by Lyngbya, it affects appearance and swimability, not to mention property values.

Resident Bob Watson, who lives on a cove just north of the clubhouse at The Peninsula Club, spent several hours raking Lyngbya mats out of the lake to dry and kill it—will organize the task force.

Tarte, who recommended a regional approach to the problem, is already on board.

Bob Watson

Attendees—there were more than 50 people there—included officials from Storm Water Services, as well as officials from Duke Energy and a representative from US Sen. Thom Tillis’ office.

Cyanobacteria

Lyngbya, which has recently been reclassified and renamed Microseira wollei, is a cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae. It has the capability to produce toxins, however, the types of toxins produced by Lyngbya are not well studied or known. A common effect is a rash on the skin.