Algae in Lake on hole #10

If you've been out to the course in the last week or so, you've seen the algae forming on the lake on hole #10. A yearly problem at Glen Echo. Our biggest problem with this lake is the fact that it is so shallow which allows the organic material(leaves and grass clippings) which has plenty of access to light to breakdown in the water causing the formation of the algae.

I also took this picture because of the two visitors in the background. We've had a couple of new wading birds on the property the last few days. I have not ID them at this time but will try to do so in the next few days or until they leave the property. With regret, the baby ducklings which were pictured a couple of weeks ago are no longer on property. I'm not going to guess what happened with them.

We will be treating the lake in the next few days with a microbial product which will eat away at the sludge and organic material at the bottom of the lake. This material is not available until around June 1st because water temperatures have to be high enough to sustain the microbes and allow them to do their work. Also, hopefully most of the heavier spring rains have begun to diminish which helps to keep the microbes in our lakes and not wash away off property.

We would like to do some light dredging in house with our backhoe and dump truck in the next few weeks to attempt to increase the depth slightly next to the shoreline. Ultimately, the lake system needs a complete overhaul to increase the overall depths of our lakes, improve the shoreline appearance and most importantly expand the irrigation lake on #15. Increasing of our capacity and ability to store water is very important. This type of investment in our property has a real return in not only lowering out potential fresh water costs but is an environmentally sound principle as well. This type of work is best accomplished in the late fall or early winter once the need for irrigation is complete. In 2009 with record high rainfall of all time, we spent

$ 45k in water. In 2008 during a year of pretty high temperature and a long hot dry spell in August, we spent around $ 110k for the season. It really pays to store your own water. It is also important for our staff to monitor our irrigation needs and keep the facility on the dry side for better plant health, playability and conservation of a very important resource.