As the weather warms so does the water and Lake Ainsworth has a green alert for blue-green algae.
This means that there is an increase of algae with an increase slicks and scums that should be avoided when present as they are areas of concentrated algae and may present a health risk.
There were two saples take at Lake Ainsworth of November 5 with total Cyanophyta B9 cells/mL at 1,200 and the other at 360. An Amber Level Alert Mode is triggered when Microcystis aeruginosa concentrations are between 5000 and 50,000 cells/mL or the biovolume of all cyanobacteria is between 0.4 and 4mm3/L.
‘There are currently no restrictions on the recreational use of the Lake but users should obey all signage erected by Council,’ stated a press release from Ballina Shire Council.
At this level routine sampling for algae should be undertaken.
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