Silver Lake Watershed Advisory Council SLWAC

07/10/2024

Often, when the lake has an algae bloom, people reach out asking what can be done to improve water quality.
The Silver Lake Watershed Advisory Council (SLWAC) is a group of local community members who volunteer their time to advise County Commissioners regarding water quality and activities that could be done to improve water quality. One of the lake’s problems is that it has too much phosphorous which contributes to algae growth. Previous lake studies have shown there isn’t a single point of phosphorous entry, meaning much of the phosphorous enters the lake via runoff water from land. Things community members in the Silver Lake watershed can do to improve water quality include:
Maintain septic systems.
Clean up pet waste.
Control runoff and soil erosion - protect your shoreline and plant native plants.
Do not use fertilizer with phosphorous.
Washing vehicles away from the lake.
Avoid or eliminate the use of pesticides.

SLWAC advocated for changing the State rules to allow fishing of the grass carp, as they lived longer than expected and ate much of the native vegetation that benefits the lake. Plants use up phosphorous as they grow.

SLWAC also works with the Silver Lake Flood Control District to open the radial gate at the weir for 30 days each winter to increase the flow of fresh water. This no-cost, low-risk activity was recommended by ecologists.

Other things that could improve the lake, including alum treatment to bind the phosphorous or targeted dredging to reduce nutrient density, will require prioritization and monetary support from the Count Commissioners.

07/09/2024

The lake has had algae bloom of varying sizes and colors over the last few weeks.
The water was tested for toxic algae a few weeks ago and the results were negative. Precautionary signs were posted by the Department of Health at public entry points so people are aware of potential hazards.
They came to take samples again today. We’ll post the results once available.

10/07/2023

Can you believe we made it an entire summer without substantial algae bloom? The Silver Lake Flood Control District opened the weir to allow some water to exit and allow the lake to refill with fresh rainwater. This may have made a difference in water quality. Hard to know after trying something once, but we had far fewer algae blooms this year despite it being a hot summer.
There is an algae bloom today. These photos are from the west end of the lake.

03/01/2023

Silver Lake has limited water flow. In addition to being in an advanced stage of eutrophication (nature trying to fill in the lake), one of the problems the lake has is there is very little fresh water exchange and a lot of stagnant water. Hemlock creek is the biggest inlet to the lake, and you can watch the water flow slowly into lake, and then the flow is difficult to map. Hemlock creek is on the same side of the lake as the weir/outlet creek, so fresh water has a short path to flow in, and then back out of, the lake.

One of the recommendations ecologists have had to try to improve water exchange and water quality is to open the radial gate in February, while keeping the fish ladder passable, to let out some of the stagnant water and let fresh rainfall (and of course run off from the land) refill the lake. The Watershed Advisory Council Requested the Silverlake Flood Control District, who manages the radial gate, open the gate.

Flood Control opened the gate for a total of 23 days, measuring the lake every day to ensure the level of the lake didn’t go too low. The ecologists recommended opening the gate for 30 days, so we may try to open it for seven more days. We just want to time the gate being open with expected rainfall. The lake is now back up to the level it was before we opened the gate.

10/08/2022

The algae bloom, pictured on the West end of the lake, had broken up and was not visible mid-week, but now it’s back.

10/02/2022

The bloom had gone away earlier in the week, but now it’s back.
Testing of the previous sample had some toxins, but all well below the State’s guidelines for safe recreational use.
If this bloom gets worse. I’ll send samples later in the week.

09/27/2022

Did you know the Silverlake Watershed Advisory Council has two vacant positions? We need new members and are looking for good people who are willing to put in some work to help improve water quality and keep our lake viable as a lake for years to come.
Click the link for more info, including the application!

Silver Lake Watershed Advisory Council

09/27/2022

Algae bloom on the East end of the lake.

09/27/2022

The lake has a large algae bloom. This is the west end of the lake. I’ve not been to the East end, but typically when it is like this it is gross anywhere where the water is less than a foot.
Feel free to add pics, with a location, in the comments. I sent an inquiry to ecology to ask about testing.

09/14/2022

Large algae bloom on the west end of the lake. Feel free to add photos of the rest of the lake in the comments.

09/10/2022

The laike has a lot of algae. The greener pics are from about 0930 this am. The brown at 1pm.
The green bloom extends from the west end to Walden island. It is equally green at Streeters. The water looks better in front of zip line island and Kerr Rd boat launch.

09/04/2022

We’ve had several algae blooms this year, but none have stayed around long enough for testing. Blooms can only be tested during the week, and have to be dropped off at the health department between Monday and Friday.

There is a bloom on the west end of the lake today. If it’s still here on Tuesday, I’ll take a sample and drive it in for testing.