Windsor Lake closed on July 4 as officials continue fighting algae blooms

DENVER ( KDVR ) — Residents of the town of Windsor will have to travel a little further to find an open swim beach after the second harmful algae bloom in weeks has caused officials to close the lake.

“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,” said Tara Fotsch, director of Parks, Recreation & Culture, in a release. “Unfortunately, due to further testing, our team has made the difficult decision to close the lake per protocol.”

The town is preventing anyone from participating in recreational activities on the lake, such as tubing and water skiing, until further notice. The harmful algae blooms can make humans and animals sick, and the town noted that human symptoms can include a sore throat, headache, skin irritation, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, nausea, stomach cramps, and more.

There are many kinds of algae blooms, according to the Centers for Disease Control , but usually, they grow in warm, slow-moving and nutrient-rich waters.

The town’s Fourth of July festivities will continue as planned — just without the swim beach, dog park and watercraft rentals.

Other areas have also been closed for harmful bacteria, such as the Aurora Reservoir, which was closed Wednesday due to elevated E. coli levels. City officials reopened the reservoir on Thursday.

Windsor sought to prevent the harmful algae blooms by installing four LG Sonic MPH-Buoys in May. The buoys create “ultrasonic waves to disrupt the algae in the water column” according to the town. By disrupting the water, the algae cannot get enough sunlight to properly grow.

When the town announced the first lake closure for algae bloom this year in late June, it noted that the buoys were working and that town officials had seen “significant signs of improvement in bacteria level.” On Wednesday, the town said the buoys were activated when the harmful blooms appeared.

Annual motorized permit holders are still allowed on the lake during the algae closure, and non-motorized boaters can use their permits at their own risk, according to the town.

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