Since 2004, there has been continuous discussion on the clean-up and preservation of Lake Neatahwanta after it was blamed for the death of dozens of animals caused by the lake’s algae. Translating to “little lake near the big lake,” Lake Neatahwanta is located near the cities of Fulton and Granby, covering approximately 750 acres. 

Lake Neatahwanta was once a popular swimming spot for locals, but due to the abundance of phosphorus (which causes harmful algae blooms in the summer), it has been closed off to swimming. 

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “harmful algal blooms can occur in lakes, reservoirs, rivers, ponds, bays and coastal waters, and the toxins they procue can be harmful to human health and acquatic life… Elevated nutrient levels and algal blooms can also cause problems in drinking water in communities nearby and upstream from dead zones.”

Although swimming is no longer permitted, sport fishing and kayaking are still allowed. Fulton officials and the public recently met at the Fulton War Memorial to discuss the current clean-up plan. Representatives from an Indiana-based water restoration company called EutroPHIX were also present to give advice. EutroPHIX has received pushback from the locals who say that what they have offered will not be the answer to the localized problem.

“You have significant phosphorus coming into the system every spring (external loading),” said Greg Boyer, director of the Great Lakes Research Consortium and emeritus professor of biochemistry at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. “You also have significant resuspension of the phosphorus already in the system (internal loading). Hence, my guess is that if you add enough of the binding agent, you will get some short-term relief, but it will not solve the longer-term issue. Given these applications can be very expensive, one always questions if the short-term fix is worth the price.” 

“Excess nitrogen and phosphorus cause an overgrowth of algae in a short period of time… the overgrowth of algae consumes oxygen and blocks sunlight from underwater plants. When the algae eventually dies, the oxygen in the water is consumed, and the lack of oxygen makes it impossible for aquatic life to survive,” the EPA stated.

Tim Carrol, a resident of Granby, warned officials against making the phosphorus levels too low because the aquatic plant life could grow dense on the shallow portions of the lake. 

“The original impact of the lake, addressed 50 or 60 years ago, was extensive aquatic vegetation that was impacting recreation,” Carrol said. Lake Neatahwanta is a special place for the locals. Preserving the lake is not only important for the environment but also for the people who use it, currently and historically. Taking away their recreational activities would be a huge loss. 

“When we were kids, we spent whole days swimming at the park,” said long time Fulton resident Jane Hutchinson. “I wouldn’t go near it now.”

If Fulton agrees to the clean up, the city would need a legislator to write it into the federal budget in the beginning of 2024. However, that does not guarantee the budget will pass; it is a lengthy bureaucratic process, and as such, it would not be passed until the end of 2024. The cost of this cleanup would range between $3.5 and $4 million. The money would go toward materials, permits, labor costs, education and outreach. There are many areas of focus when it comes to the clean-up, including the watershed management and the nutrient management. 

The logistics behind Lake Neatahwanta’s restoration are undeniably expensive and complex, but both the ecological and social benefits that would come from the clean-up overshadow these obstacles. With a lively community once enjoying its healthy waters, Lake Neatahwanta’s future will be dependent on the fiscal policy of the city of Fulton and whether the issue of phosphorus will be adequately addressed. 

Photo by: Faith Summerville