Toxic algae closes 3 Buckeye Lake beaches

BUCKEYE LAKE – Toxic algae has forced the Ohio Department of Natural Resources division of state parks to close three beaches on Buckeye Lake.

"To help ensure the safety of our visitors the swimming beaches at Brooks Beach, Crystal Beach and Fairfield Beach are currently closed. We apologize for any inconvenience," a notice on the ODNR website reads.

Algae has caused problems on Buckeye Lake in the past, but this year's algae has shown up earlier than usual.

"This was expected, and it's not a surprise," said Merv Bartholow, of Buckeye Lake for Tomorrow. Buckeye Lake for Tomorrow — a partnership of scientists and conservationists —works to ensure the lake is healthy for the people who enjoy the state park every summer.

Bartholow said that as temperatures rise, algae blooms will come faster when there is less water in the lake, which has the same amount of nutrients that feed the blooms.

The water levels of Buckeye Lake have remained at or below winter pool levels for weeks as a risk mitigation measure taken by the ODNR after a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers report found the lake's dam to be severely weakened.

Bartholow said the toxic algae levels on Buckeye Lake are not at an alarming place yet, and he said he hopes later dredging on the lake will help keep more toxic algae from forming. Dredging will remove nutrients from the lake bottom and allow the lake to hold more water, both of which will help with the toxic algae problem, Bartholow said.

"All the right things are being done. It just takes time," he said.

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