The Lake Carey Welfare Association’s Water Quality Initiative is a long-term program to protect and improve the health of Lake Carey. Partnering with Aqualink, a professional lake management company, the initiative includes regular water testing, monitoring for invasive plant species, and tracking nutrient levels such as phosphorus.
Data collected will guide strategies to prevent algae overgrowth, protect fish populations, and maintain water clarity.
This proactive approach ensures the lake remains a safe, clean, and thriving resource for the community now and in the future.
Data collected will guide strategies to prevent algae overgrowth, protect fish populations, and maintain water clarity.
This proactive approach ensures the lake remains a safe, clean, and thriving resource for the community now and in the future.
August 14, 2025 |
Did you know? All water quality tests and mitigation efforts at Lake Carey are funded entirely by volunteer work and donations.
Annual LCWA dues do not cover these costs — but these efforts are what help us detect and address hazards like Harmful Algal Blooms, keeping the lake safe for swimming, fishing, boating, and wildlife. LCWA has recently hired a professional lake management company, Aqualink, to guide and manage these efforts. If you value a healthy, clean lake, please help us continue this work. If you're not a member, join the LCWA. Attend the Membership Meetings. Participate in LCWA projects and events. Donate directly to support testing and mitigation. Spread the word about why water quality matters. Every test we run, every hazard we mitigate, and every safe day on the water happens because our community steps up. |
August 7, 2025
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WATER QUALITY ALERT
We've Just been made aware of an algae bloom along the east side of the upper lake. We have consulted with Aqualink, our lake management company, and were advised that Cyanobacteria blooms are typical for this time of the year but can be toxic. Best to avoid contact. |
July 2025 |
from Lake Life - Summer 2025 Issue
Algae Imposter - by Jessicca Fiore One topic any lake resident has plenty of experience with is lake scum. Coating the rocks or floating in the water, algae is as much a lake resident as the fish. However, there is an imposter among these algae. Though typically known as blue-green algae for its ability to photosynthesize, cyanobacteria is in fact: a bacteria. With its ability to float up and down through the water column and being undesirable as food for other critters, under the right conditions (still water and excess nutrients) its population can boom to what’s known as a Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB). The “harmful” part is due to the presence of cyanotoxins in certain types of this bacteria. Though the risk for the average adult may be minimal (skin rash, sore throat, or tummy upset), our canine friends are more susceptible to experiencing health effects that could require days of veterinary care. Consequently, knowing how to spot the imposter can keep our furry friends safe this summer season. It may be a HAB if it: consists of small pinhead sized particles, collects in a layer at the surface or along the shoreline, causes the water to appear murky or oddly discolored (green, white, gray, milky). It will act slippery and drippy like paint. Since the blooms form out in deeper water and then blow to the shore, they can also appear streaky. If a sample is scooped into a bottle and let to set on a sunny surface for 15 to 20 minutes, a separate layer of particles will form at the top. If you are unsure if the bloom is a HAB, avoid letting your dog wade in or drink the water. If contact occurs, rinse them thoroughly with freshwater and watch for symptoms such as: throwing up, loss of energy, stumbling and falling, or seizures. If signs appear, seek immediate veterinary care or call poison hotline. Though cyanobacteria have existed through time, humans facilitate their growth by contributing to the presence of excess nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) in our water bodies. Be wise when you fertilize! Consider the 4Rs: Right Source (proper ratio), Right Rate (proper amount), Right Time (avoid snow, frost, and right before a heavy rain), Right Place (only on the areas that need it). Fertilizer Info: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/pda/plants-land-water/fertilizer.html Photo: www.wgcu.org/section/environment/2024-05-20/water-quality-report-blue-green-algae-learn-it-live-it-but-you-dont-have-to-love-it |
May 2025
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from Lake Life - Summer 2025 Issue
Caring for Lake Carey: Our Next Steps in Lake Health - by Lewis Flinn and Rob Baskin In our last newsletter and recent communications, we shared the LCWA’s ongoing focus on preserving and enhancing the health of Lake Carey. After exploring various options, we’ve decided that partnering with a professional lake management firm is the most effective way forward. We are excited to announce that we’ve selected Aqualink, a respected company with extensive experience working on nearby lakes such as Lake Winola, Lake Sheridan, and Harveys Lake. Led by Ed Molesky, president of the Pennsylvania Lake Management Society (PALMS), Aqualink will bring expert guidance to help us protect and care for our lake. To learn more, visit Aqualink’s website at www.aqualinkinc.com. Aqualink’s Proposal Includes:
If you attended our Zoom session on April 30, you heard Ed discuss the importance of proactive lake management and shared his recommendations for Lake Carey. Essentially, Aqualink will act as the “doctor” for the lake, monitoring and maintaining its health, which will be especially crucial as we prepare for the upcoming dam reconstruction. This expert service comes at an annual cost of $7,800, which is more than what our current dues can cover. We are launching additional fund-raising efforts (see below) and will hold a vote on this expenditure during our June 2025 meeting. Once the dam replacement project is complete, we plan to allocate funds raised during our annual golf tournament and Lake Carey Day to support this ongoing effort. Fun Fundraising for a Vital Cause While ensuring the health of our lake is a serious matter, raising the funds to support it can also be a fun and enjoyable experience. Lewis Flinn has generously offered the Old Carter Barn for a fundraising event on Friday, August 15. Now we need a committee of enthusiastic Lake Carey volunteers to help plan the theme, organize the event, and recruit attendees. Some ideas for themes include a luau, a masquerade, or a casino night… the possibilities are endless. If you are interested in volunteering and helping make this evening a success, please call or text Rob at 610-290-6916. Together, we can keep Lake Carey healthy and thriving for generations to come! |
February 2025
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from Lake Life - Winter 2025 Issue
Lake Carey Watershed Update Water Quality Monitoring Results from Summer 2024 - by Jessicca Fiore My name is Jessica Fiore, and I am a Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward Volunteer. I was born and raised right here at Lakey Carey and am working to bring important information on water quality and best practices to manage our lake and its watershed. This past summer, Dr. Holly Frederick of Wilkes University collected and analyzed water samples and used sonde monitoring equipment to evaluate water quality data in the lake from August 13-16, 2024. At about 1.0 meters below the surface, the sonde units collected data on dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, conductivity, and temperature to observe how these change over time. By tracking the DO levels, especially during the hours after midnight when they are typically the lowest, we can learn how well the lake supports aquatic life. The sondes were also used on August 13 to measure how DO, pH, conductivity, and temperature changed with depth along the water column starting from just below the surface to about 7 meters deep. Lake Carey’s designated use by DEP is “Cold Water Fishes” (CWF) which requires higher levels of DO. Dr. Frederick concluded that levels observed were good. Dr. Frederick tested water samples to determine total phosphorus (TP) levels, which can contribute to algal blooms. Some of these can be Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), which can emit toxins that are dangerous to pets and of concern for recreation like swimming. At 1 meter deep, the TP was 0.15 mg/L, while at 9.1 meters deep the total phosphorus was 1.10 mg/L. In considering such a high TP at the bottom of the lake, Dr. Frederick commented on how the previous alum treatment (completed by Princeton Hydro in August 2020) could be the reasoning behind such levels. The poly-aluminum chloride (PACl) would have bound the phosphorus into the sediment making it inert and unusable for algae. In considering the surface level of 0.15, Lake Carey’s level was fairly typical of other local lakes within Dr. Frederick’s scope of testing, including Frances Slocum Lake, Lake Louise, Harvey’s Lake, and Lake Jean. These TP levels are all high, since low algal growth is associated with less than 0.02 mg/L of phosphorus. This data is just a snapshot of the lake’s health; thus, Dr. Frederick encourages staying proactive in monitoring and following best practices to manage lake water quality. |