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MORSE WATER QUALITY MEETING SUMMARY

On July 23rd. Dr. Lenore Tedesco, the Director of CEES (Center for Earth and Environmental Science) at IUPUI presented very interesting and educational information on blue-algae toxins and report on recent Morse water sampling. The interest in blue-algae increased last year when a health warning was issued related to Geist Reservoir.

Tedesco and her IUPUI staff, along with considerable amount of funding from Veolia and the Indianapolis Water Company are now conducting testing on Morse, Geist and Eagle Creek every 2 weeks from May to mid October. There are 8 locations on Morse where samples are taken from north of 236^th bridge down to the dam. The water samples are tested both locally and in Florida. The IUPUI and Veolia alliance has been a working relationship for nearly 20 years. The current water samples are mapped with a variety of stats from previous years including temperature, rain fall, water flow to better understand the relationships and correlations among these conditions and compared to the all 3 reservoirs. The blue-algae research is a worldwide study with information being shared on global basis to better understand the cause and effect of these microscopic bacteria.

Algal blooms are caused by sunlight, nutrients (fertilizers), still water conditions, warm water. The fertilizer we place on our lawns, the grass clippings which get into the lake directly or through the storm water sewers in the street contribute to the algal growth.

For more information on algae go to IUPUI web site http://www.cees.iupui.edu/Research/Water_Resources/CIWRP/Algae_Information/index.htm

The current sampling, along with the grant funding tests that will begin, will give us a really better understanding of the entire Morse watershed and how future algal growth can be reduced. Please support us in our fund raising for the 10% matching funds for our LARE water diagnostic grant of $47,700. Make checks payable to Morse Waterways Association. Place the word “Grant” on the memo line of the check and mail the check to: Jim Schneider 2460 Cape Henry Ct. Cicero, IN 46034.