A possible three or four foot drawdown of Milford Lake in the early winter months of 2017 ( January – February time frame )  is being considered as a possible way to deal with the blue green algae problem at the reservoir.

That was one of the ideas receiving discussion during a public forum at a Kansas Regional Advisory Committee meeting in Wakefield on Friday. The director of the Kansas Water Office, Tracy Streeter stated they’re working with the Corp of Engineers, Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism and Milford Lake stakeholders both upstream and downstream of the reservoir “to say where’s that optimal level where we can still meet all the authorized purposes of the lake between recreation and water supply, draw it down so we can create some space to grow some vegetation into the growing season, then bring the lake back up.”

Streeter added the idea is to allow that vegetation created by the drawdown compete for nutrients and perhaps reduce the severity of the length and possibly the occurrence of the harmful algae blooms. He noted one option is to draw the lake down by four feet in the early part of 2017 and then bring the water level back up. “there is some concern with boat ramp availability, recreation access, with a four-foot drawdown. So I’m not sure where we’ll end up on that.” A two or three-foot drawdown could also be considered. The public had an opportunity to give input on the subject to State Water Office officials at the session in Wakefield.

The toxic blooms have led to numerous warnings and closures at the lake in recent years. The portion of the reservoir impacted the most has been Zone C at the north end of the lake.

Expanding and improving the wetlands areas on the north side of the reservoir has also been suggested as another possible step to try and deal with the blue green algae problem.

Officials in the forum  made it clear phosphorous flowing down the Republican River into the north end of Milford Lake is a key cause of the problem. Also, the prescence of zebra mussels in the lake has led to clearer water, allowing sunlight to go deeper into the water. That in turn helps foster the growth of the troublesome blue green algae.