Lake Tuggeranong looked a murky green two months ago. Photo: George Tsotsos.
Lake Tuggeranong has reopened to both primary and secondary contact after months of extreme levels of blue-green algae in the lake.
The Environment Protection Authority removed the extreme alert level for blue-green algae on Friday (3 May).
The EPA said algae monitoring results confirmed algae levels are now low after the lake was closed for primary-contact recreation since December last year.
An EPA spokesperson said the authority believes the results are due to cooler weather conditions experienced over the past few weeks.
“The community should always look for algae warning signs which indicate the current algae alert level,” the spokesperson said. “Warning signs are located at public access areas.
“The ACT Government is actively working to better understand blue-green algae outbreaks in Lake Tuggeranong and how they could be prevented in the future.”
The Institute for Applied Ecology at the University of Canberra, led by water ecologist Ross Thompson, is currently conducting two water quality research projects at the lake as part of ACT Healthy Waterways.
The research complements investment in water quality infrastructure, including new wetlands and rain gardens across Canberra, with the hope the new wetlands may reduce the flow of pollutants from the catchments entering the lake.
For more information on blue-green algae and alert levels, click here or contact the Environment Protection Authority through Access Canberra on 13 22 81.
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