REMINDER: Stay on the lookout for golden alga
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It has now been three years since the problematic golden alga was first discovered in Urban Fishing Program waters. Five of our lakes are known to be infested with the microscopic alga: Alvord, Cortez, Desert West and Papago Lakes in Phoenix, and Water Ranch Lake in Gilbert. Urban Program biologists and park staff continue to stay on the lookout for the presence of golden alga in our waters. Historically, golden alga becomes a problem as lake temperatures cool in the 50-60 degree range. To date, there have been no blooms of the troublesome golden alga reported this fall. Since 2007 there are no new lakes found with golden alga. That is good news so far for anglers, lake managers, and, of course, the fish communities.
Golden alga is a microscopic organism that releases substances that are toxic to fish. If left untreated, the tiny organism can dominate the plankton community in a lake and release enough toxins to kill off many fish. The toxins only affect gill breathing fish and clams and pose no harm to humans or animals. Game and Fish is working closely with our 11 city partners to regularly monitor for and control the algae. When golden alga is discovered at low to moderate levels and the proper chemicals are applied right away, the treatments are highly effective in killing the golden alga and halting any fish kills. For more information on golden alga, go to www.azgfd.gov and look for golden alga FAQs. To report any suspicious observations of fish behavior or lake conditions that may be caused by golden alga, contact the Department at (623) 236-7263 or (623) 236-7268. Please do your part to prevent the spread of golden alga by not moving water or wet objects or fishing equipment from lake to lake. Remember to “Clean, Drain and Dry!”