Less than a week after reopening Windsor Lake that had been closed due to a harmful algae bloom, town officials closed the popular lake effectively immediately, a day before the busy Fourth of July holiday weekend.
The town said in a late afternoon news release July 3 that the lake will be closed until further notice after a test conducted by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment confirmed the presence of harmful algae blooms.
It was previously closed June 21-27.
"Out of an abundance of caution, recreational activities on the lake — such as tubing and water skiing—will not be available ahead of the holiday until further notice,'' the news release read.
The town said despite the lake closure its Fourth of July festivities at Boardwalk Park will continue as planned, but the swim beach, dog park and watercraft rentals will be closed.
"We were hopeful based on last week’s test results that the water quality would have improved in time for the Fourth of July holiday,'' Tara Fotsch, the town's director of Parks, Recreation & Culture, stated in the news release. "Unfortunately, due to further testing, our team has made the difficult decision to close the lake per protocol.''
In May 2024, the town launched four new LG Sonic MPC-Buoys on the lake to help combat harmful algae blooms when they appear. The buoys use ultrasonic waves to disrupt the algae in the water column, depriving algae of the sunlight they need to grow. Staff are closely monitoring water quality using real-time data from these buoys.
The news release said annual motorized permit holders are still allowed on the lake during the closure; non-motorized boaters can use their permits at their own risk, though staying out of the water is highly recommended.
Stay up to date with the latest lake information here .
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Algae bloom shuts down popular Windsor Lake ahead of Fourth of July holiday
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