AUSTIN (KXAN) — If you’re at Lady Bird Lake this Monday and see a barge spraying a gray slurry into the lake, there is nothing to worry about. It’s just the city of Austin continuing its five-year pilot program to “reduce harmful algae blooms” on parts of the lake, the city said in a news release.
The blue green algae, which grows best in the heat, can be toxic to both people and animals. It has killed a number of dogs that went into the lake back in 2019, according to the city.
The city started the pilot program to get rid of the algae five years ago, which involves applying a special clay to certain parts of the lake. That clay is meant to absorb and neutralize a major source of nutrients for the algae, keeping it from growing out of control.
The clay will be applied at three locations, as provided by the city:
- Red Bud Isle
- The boat ramp on the north shore of the lake, just west of I-35
- The north shore of the lake between I-35 and the lagoon behind the Festival Beach Boat Ramp
According to the city, the program costs $300,000 a year, and it said results have been mixed, with major algae reduction at Red Bud Isle, but smaller changes down the river.
During this time, the city recommends people and pets “should avoid contact with the algae, do not drink from natural bodies of water, and rinse off after contact with the water.”