State presents Twin Lakes cleanup options

State officials and researchers offered a slate of options for cleaning up water quality at Twin Lakes.
But lakes residents expressed cynicism about some of the proposals, and about the state’s previous efforts to keep less desirable fish out of the lakes.
The two-year study of the lakes, by Iowa State University professors and researchers, showed high phosphate levels in both lakes. North Twin Lake is the major source of the nutrient into South Twin Lake, researcher Chris Filstrup said. Levels in South Twin are at about 260 parts per billion, while North Twin Lake has levels of about 69 parts per billion. The researchers didn’t present a specific level of acceptable phosphate, but did say they looked at the situation with a goal of reducing about 80 percent of the chemical particulate in the water. The remaining 20 percent comes from rain and dust, and cannot be easily diverted before reaching the lake.
The problem with phosphate, Filstrup said, is how the presence of the fertilizer accelerates the growth of algae, particularly a blue-green variety that harbors cyanobacteria. That bacteria is harmful to humans and pets, causing skin and internal organ problems. 
Read more in the May 25 edition.