Deer Lakes Park, Burrell Lake Park dealing with lake water issues; officials eye treatment plans

The lower lakes at Deer Lakes Park are “virtually unfishable,” said Tom Fitzgerald, a longtime fisherman and East Deer resident.

Fitzgerald walks the park nearly every day and notes three glaring issues with the ponds: overgrowth, algae and lily pads out of control.

“There are parts where it looks like you could walk across the lake,” he said.

Park groundskeepers do an “incredible job” maintaining the rest of the park, Fitzgerald said. But the lakes leave more to be desired.

Fitzgerald said he has left a message on an Allegheny County website about the issue. Andrew Grobe, deputy director of the county’s parks department, said his staff was unaware of any concerns but noted algae blooms are typical in hot and dry summers.

Grobe said the county’s parks department is in the process of testing to see whether there are any concerns to the wildlife, because not all algae blooms are hazardous.

“We do have a holistic plan in place to improve the lakes at Deer Lakes,” Grobe said. “It will be a multiyear process, but it is on our radar as highly important. We have a general plan in place, and an ecological study has been done. After testing, we will do everything we can to eliminate a threat or control the area as best we can.”

Burrell Lake problems

Deer Lakes isn’t alone in its fight against algae this year.

Although not required by the state, Lower Burrell officials are eyeing a treatment plan to mitigate an ongoing algae issue at Burrell Lake Park.

The state’s Department of Environmental Protection in June identified a “harmful” algal bloom at the park, said agency spokeswoman Lauren Camarda. Samples from the lake indicated concentrations of cyanobacteria are “well above” the threshold for when people should avoid contact.

The DEP then took samples twice in July, Camarda said. Results from the most recent samples show the cyanobacteria concentrations remain elevated.

DEP had only recommended the city post signage notifying people of the algae. Treatment wasn’t required, but the city decided to contract with Solitude Lake Management to treat the lake.

“DEP continues to communicate with the City of Lower Burrell, which has posted the recommended watch signage,” she said.

Harmful algal blooms only pose a threat if people or animals make direct skin contact or ingest the algae. No swimming is allowed in the park. It was prohibited even before the algal bloom was identified.

The blooms are common when there is calm, slow-moving or stagnant water; high concentrations of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus; and warm temperatures, according to the DEP. This week’s high temperatures are forecast to be in the low- to mid-80s.

Michelle Hatbob, the city’s public works director, said Solitude has taken samples of the lake and will discuss a treatment plan with the city when the results are complete.

A cost to the city won’t be known until the plan is discussed.