The last thing I want to do is call out individual home owners. I grew up on Lake of the Clouds and I'm sure their is phosphorus in that lake with my name all over it. I have to use this photo to explain the predictable cause and effect occuring. Fine and course particulate organic matter (P) is entering the lake in large amounts from wind and rain activities. The phosphorus stimulates algal blooms as seen in the picture taken May 26. We can treat the algae with copper sulfate killing the algae and much of the animal life. The nutrients are released back into the water and a few days later we will have another bloom. Long-term, this path will lead to a degraded ecosystem, the opposite of what we want for Rush. The solution lies in vigilance in limiting nutrient inputs, once they are in, they are recycled year after year and nuisance plant and algae control becomes more and more difficult. Step two is to establish beneficial native aquatic vascular plants and colonial algae (Chara) to take up nutrients and provide food and cover for a developing ecosystem In the mean time we may have to be willing to do some raking. to remove the mats (which make great garden compost by the way).