LONG LIVE MEAD LAKE
This ques􀆟tion was presented to att􀆩endees at the Mead Lake Water Quality Seminar and other Mead Lake
property owners. Their responses varied from “I could not go swimming because greenies triggered allergies”.
“I was denied a simple pleasure of watching my grandkids having fun swimming due to greenies.” “I get a gag
reflex due to foul odors.” “A dog died due to ingesti􀆟ng blue green algae.” “I feel dirty a􀅌er swimming.” “I do not
come to the lake during algae blooms.” “I could not access a fishing spot due to mats of floa􀆟ng algae / duck
weed snagging my lures.” And the big one “My property value declines if no one likes being on the lake.”
Why does this happen: Algae is the cause for the loss of people’s enjoyment of the lake. Mead Lake is considered
nutrient-rich, eutrophic (the bott􀆩om of a lake oxygen ra􀆟nge) and therefore impaired. Algae blooms are common
in the summer months along with other harmful algae blooms, commonly known as blue-green algae or
cyanobacteria.
The Mead Lake Fact Sheet 2023 provided details on how these conditi􀆟ons occur due to non-point pollutants
(phosphorus and sediment runoff) entering the lake from the South Fork of the Eau Claire River watershed.
The Mead Lake Management Plan published in 2010, lists the number one goal for lake improvement as
“Improve water quality and decrease frequency and intensity of algae blooms by decreasing sediment and
phosphorus inputs to the lake.” Clark County, having the responsibility, has a remediati􀆟on plan to address the
goal with an objec􀆟ve to reduce pollutants input by 30%. However, neither the goal or the objec􀆟ve address the
rehabilita􀆟on needs of the lake from damage created by watershed pollu􀆟tion.
Clean up and rehabilitati􀆟on efforts of Mead Lake are the responsibility of the Mead Lake District.
Our common thread – A cleaner Mead Lake makes all forms of recreation on the lake more enjoyable, people
and pets are healthier, fishing is improved and property values remain high. Everyone believes they will feel
better, enjoy and value their time on Mead Lake even more when it has visibly cleaner water, reduced algae, no
foul odors and an improved habitat for all species of life. The Mead Lake District board shares this same belief.
It is 􀆟time for our Mead Lake District to implement a strategy to start cleaning up our lake.
What can the Mead Lake District do to ensure a more enjoyable Mead Lake?
Starti􀆟ng at the annual mee􀆟ting June 15, 2024, the Mead Lake District Board is proposing a project of lake
rehabilita􀆟tion called Long Live Mead Lake. The project is a mul􀆟ti-year, two part proac􀆟ve strategy to identi􀆟fy
aera􀆟on technology which can posi􀆟tively impact efforts to clean up and rehabilitate Mead Lake. Mead Lake
District electors who att􀆩end the June 15, 2024 annual mee􀆟ng will have opportunity to vote a directi􀆟on on this
ini􀆟tiati􀆟ve.
Where do we start: Muck, having accumulated in various bays and lake bo􀆩ttom over the years, is a contribu􀆟ting
factor to the summer􀆟me algae blooms and foul odors. Muck is a type of sediment buildup consis􀆟ting of
decomposing plant material, algae, and other organic matt􀆩er. Muck also contains phosphorus and other
nutrients from the watershed. Compounding our challenge is that less surface water spills over the closed dam
gates in the hot summer months. Water in various bays and shallow areas stagnates. Dissolved oxygen in the
lake water becomes inadequate to promote normal decomposi􀆟on of organic materials; thereby, increasing the
potenti􀆟al and intensity of algae blooms.
Long Live Mead Lake starts with a proof-of-concept test evalua􀆟ting a natural, non-chemical, aerati􀆟on technology.
This will increase dissolved oxygen in the water to promote the natural decomposi􀆟on process of muck. Similar
to composting, the increase of dissolved oxygen in the water promotes decay of organic material by the good
bacteria in the lake. More dissolved oxygen also produces oxidati􀆟ve effects that break down excessive nutrient
levels (e.g. phosphorus, nitrogen) by reducing the phosphorus laden muck. In other words, good bacteria eats
the muck.
Details on project Long Live Mead Lake are:
Our Goal: Mead Lake moves up to mesotrophic status (search: InterpretiveGuideToCLMNWaterQualityReport dnr.wi.gov)
Our Objective: Improve lake water quality by reducing potential and intensity of algae blooms to bring Mead
Lake out from an impaired / eutrophic status (lowest status) to an improved mesotrophic status.
How we will reach the goal: Part one; A proof-of-concept evaluation of aeration technology commonly called
NanoBubbles would start in summer 2024. Nanobubbles are microscopic bubbles of air, 2500 􀆟mes smaller than
a grain of salt. A shore-based NanoBubbles system (42”L x 27”W x 42”H), pulls in lake water, injects increased
oxygen in the form of NanoBubbles into the water and returns that water back to the lake.
Cri􀆟cal to this effort is monitoring of water quality changes before and continuing with operation of aeration
technology. Quan􀆟fiable data on any change to water quality is required for direc􀆟on of future plans and
considera􀆟on for future financial grants.
A proven aera􀆟on technology will result in reduced levels of phosphorus, chlorophyl ll A, proper pH and less
muck. Dissolved oxygen will be higher and water clarity will be measurably deeper.
Part Two of the strategy will continue in 2025 with recommendation to implement a proven aeration concept.
Subsequent plans in years 2026, 2027 and 2028 will include ini􀆟a􀆟ves for maintaining a healthy fishery, prevent
expansion of invasive species, educa􀆟on for control of shoreline erosion from runoff and ensure safe and diverse
recrea􀆟onal ac􀆟vi􀆟es for all.
What is the proof-of-concept budget: Balance of FY24 $14,800 (does not require additional assessment at this time)
What grants are available to offset cost: Wisconsin currently does not offer grants for NanoBubble aeration at
this time.
What other options were considered: Four common alternatives were considered.
 Alum treatment (Aluminum Sulphate / Aluminum Hydroxide) was researched and determined not feasible by
WI DNR. Water flow characteristics of Mead Lake would wash away any treatment in a high water, dam open
event. The estimated cost of Alum treatments can exceed $400,000 over 3 years. If treating 106 acres or only
1/3 of Mead Lake, the additional per property assessment is estimated to be $956 annually.
 Biologic treatments do not address the main problem of inadequate dissolved oxygen in the water. Water
flow characteristics of Mead Lake would wash away any treatment in a high water, dam open event.
Treatment to 100 acres of Mead Lake would require estimated 5000 lbs. (166, 5 gal. buckets) of product per
month, be applied over a four month period.
 Dredging is already known to have annual expense of $425,000 per year on Lake Altoona. Mead Lake would
incur an estimated assessment of $3057 per property in a dredging initiative. There are no grants available
from the state to offset this expense.
 Other forms of aeration technology - MicroBubbles and fine bubbles (fish aquariums), are not as effective
because the larger bubbles rise to the surface and do not infiltrate the muck to promote organic decay.
A NanoBubbles aera􀆟on concept test this summer is an􀆟cipated to deliver measurable and posi􀆟ve changes
with quan􀆟fied informa􀆟on for future plans and financial grants to rehabilitate our lake. NanoBubbles
technology also offers a significant lower cost alterna􀆟ve to alum and dredging. NanoBubbles aera􀆟on has
proven effec􀆟ve in reducing muck and cleaning the waters in many other lakes which have algae bloom issues
similar to Mead Lake. Two recent examples in Wisconsin are:
 Late last summer 2023 tes􀆟ng on a small bay on Lake Arrowhead in the Tri Lakes District, Nekoosa, WI showed
significant improvement in water quality and clarity. They will be implemen􀆟ng a larger scale NanoBubbles
aera􀆟on project this summer.
 Balsam Lake Protec􀆟on and Rehabilita􀆟on District in Polk County, Wi, is expected to start a custom
NanoBubbles aera􀆟on project in summer 2024. Their confidence in the technology resulted in realloca􀆟ng a
$95,000 dredging budget plus purchase of a dredging machine into a 3 year NanoBubbles project.
The Mead Lake District board is highly confident that by the fall season of 2024, we will have iden􀆟fied a viable
and low cost solu􀆟on to rehabilitate our lake. We will rely on what the water quality data tells us before jumping
all-in in future years. We must manage expecta􀆟ons plus maintain a disciplined scien􀆟fic approach. Every lake is
different and will exhibit different changes because “lakes work on lake 􀆟me.” (Buzz Sorge)
Your support is needed to approve the budget for Long Live Mead Lake.
The final result is: all forms of recreation on Mead Lake become more enjoyable, with a thriving fishery,
an improved eco system for all forms of lake life and all of our property values remain high.