Mill Creek MetroParks is advising park visitors to avoid recreational activities on Lake Newport until further notice due to potentially-harmful algae in the lake.
A MetroParks official said the issue was brought to staff members’ attention Tuesday.
The park district has been in contact with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency on the issue.
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A large part of Mill Creek Park’s Lake Newport remains covered with thick green algae Wednesday night. Park officials say it’s a direct result of the warm, dry conditions we’ve had the past several weeks.
An algal bloom covered about 20 percent of Lake Newport on Tuesday, confined to an area right up against the dam.
On Wednesday, the algae had broken up. Most of it shifted to one side and now it extends the entire length of Lake Newport.
It’s so thick, it looks like a green covering.
The next step is to have it tested to see if it’s harmful.
“We don’t know whether or not that bright green algae is classified as a harmful algal bloom,” said Mill Creek Park Director Aaron Young.
Ryan Tekac, with the Mahoning County Health Department, said he was notified of the issue on Tuesday.
Both Young and Tekac have been in contact with the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
“At this point, they recommend doing testing,” Tekac said.
The testing could take place on Thursday. It’ll take about two days to get the results, then they’ll decide what — if anything — should be done.
“Not all algal blooms are considered harmful,” Tekac said.
If it turns out to be harmful, the water will need more testing.
Tekac said the algae is a direct result of the recent high temperatures and lack of rain.
Wednesday was the 12th straight day with temperatures above 80 degrees in Youngstown. On Tuesday, it had been 12 days without rain.
“The level that is there now is certainly indicative of the climate conditions that we’ve been experiencing, which is weeks of high temperature and little rainfall,” Young said.
On Wednesday, there were some areas of open water on Lake Newport, which is not totally covered with the algal bloom.
It’s recommended that canoeists and kayakers stay off the lake.
“We’re not going to close them. If they’re adamant about getting in there and recreating, you can still do that at Newport,” Young said. “The algae’s not over the entire surface area but I don’t know how enjoyable it would be paddling within it.”
Lake Cohasset had some spots of algae but none was visible on Lake Glacier. Just to be safe, Young is going to have Glacier tested anyway.
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Algae bloom in Lake Newport in Mill Creek MetroPark is covering between 20 and 25 percent of the lake.
Officials from the Mahoning County District Board of Health said MetroParks officials noticed the significant growth Tuesday.
The spark in blooms is most likely because of the warm weather and drought across the Valley.
It’s been 13 days since measurable rain has been recorded in the area.
The Environmental Protection Agency has been notified.
MetroParks officials will be doing further testing to see if the algae is dangerous.
Lake Glacier in the park has also shown signs of algae growth.
Officials said people need to be aware of the blooms, and if they notice something unusual, to stay away from it until further testing is done.
Wednesday, Senator Rob Portman announced the Senate passed bipartisan legislation, he helped author, called the Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Act (HABHRCA).
Senator Portman worked with Florida Senator Bill Nelson to reauthorize the program in 2014 and negotiated a Great Lakes section that has ensured federal agencies prioritize monitoring and mitigation efforts in freshwater bodies such as Lake Erie.
“This legislation takes critical steps toward protecting Lake Erie and other freshwater bodies throughout Ohio and the nation from toxic algae. It is important that these water bodies are protected, as they supply drinking water to millions of Ohioans and are critical for Ohio’s tourism and fishing industries,” said Portman.
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The Mill Creek Golf Course Bunker Restoration Capital Improvement Project is set to begin this week on the South Course.
The project will include the restoration of 36 bunkers and additional drainage work.
The South Course will be open for play during the restoration process but may be limited to nine hole play on a few of the days during the restoration process.
However, the North Course and Practice Facility will remain open for normal play and tee times.
Golf Preservations Inc. was awarded the project on September 18, 2017.
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The following roads in Mill Creek Park will be closed to vehicular traffic as well as cyclists and pedestrians from approximately 7:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 30, 2017 for the Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk:
• Bears Den Drive
• Cross Drive
• West Drive
Always use caution when driving on MetroParks roads as many of these roads are also used by pedestrians and bicyclists. Pedestrians and bicyclists should be reminded to also use caution and be aware of vehicular traffic when on these roads
The Mill Creek Golf Course Bunker Restoration Capital Improvement Project is set to begin this week on the South Course. The project will include the restoration of 36 bunkers and additional drainage work. The South Course will be open for play during the restoration process, but may be limited to 9 Hole play on a few of the days during the restoration process. The North Course and Practice Facility will remain open for normal play and tee times. Golf Preservations Inc. was awarded the project on September 18, 2017.
Mill Creek Metroparks offered a trolley ride through different areas of Mill Creek Park to the public on Aug. 25.
Tour guide Lynn Zocolo gave those on the tour interesting facts about the park as the trolley traveled from area to area. The tour started at Fellows Riverside Garden, looped around the park and ended back at the garden. Mill Creek designed the tour as a way for members of the park to notice the changes in season near the end of summer.
The tour started at the garden, headed to Lake Cohasset, in front of the Wall Garden, into the Lily Pond area, by the Birch Hill Cabin, around Pioneer Pavilion’s lot, over the suspension bridge, near Lanterman’s Mill, past Cascade Falls and entered the drive way leading to Judge Morley Pavilion’s parking lot before looping back around.
Zocolo opened the trolley ride with some trivia about the general history of the park. Her first couple of questions revolved around Fellows Riverside Garden since the tour began there. For example, Elizabeth Fellows donated the land to Mill Creek park in 1958 to create a community garden. Then, her trivia dealt with Volney Rogers, the park’s founder.
The trivia became about each area the trolley passed rather than the general history of the park. For instance, while at the Lily Pond, Zocolo explained where the Lily Pond’s nickname, “The Goldfish Pond,“ originated. According to the story, a police officer donated five goldfish to Volney Rogers for the newly opened pond.
The trolley ride provided beautiful sights for the riders. Zocolo showed the tour group notable nature points in the park, but occasionally, the trolley stopped for unplanned sights, such as a couple deer running through the woods and to look at the oldest continually lived in house in Youngstown, which resides next to the park. The group saw other wildlife on the tour as well, including squirrels and a heron.
Other information and history about Mill Creek can be found on their website, millcreekmetroparks.org, or on Zocolo’s other tours. She plans to host tours more often in 2018.
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A Regular Meeting of the Board of Park Commissioners of Mill Creek MetroParks will be held on Monday, September 18, 2017, at 6 p.m. in McMahon Hall, at the MetroParks Farm, in Canfield, on Rt. 46. The agenda will be available after 2 p.m. on the day of the meeting.
On Saturday, September 16, 2017, Price Road near the Old Log Cabin in Mill Creek MetroParks will experience brief, periodic closings from approximately 8:00 am until 2:00 pm for the YUTC Ultra Trail Run. The entrance to Fellows Riverside Gardens on Price Road will remain open.
Always use caution when driving on MetroParks roads as many of these roads are also used by pedestrians and bicyclists. Pedestrians and bicyclists should be reminded to also use caution and be aware of vehicular traffic when on these roads.
We are beginning to see some color in the leaves around the area, but peak season for fall foliage is a few weeks away.
Lynn Zocolo with Mill Creek MetroParks said some leaves are now starting to turn from green to brilliant reds and yellows and other colors, especially further north towards Lake Erie.
Some of the early color is due to environmental stresses trees endured over the course of the summer.
“We had many hot days in a row. We had rain here and there. We had a lot of rain and then a little rain. It was inconsistent, so I think some of the changes we’re starting to see right now are coming from plants and trees that are stressed out. They are reacting to protect themselves,” Zocolo said.
The “near-peak” and “peak” periods for foliage locally should be around the October 1, a little sooner closer to the lake and later further to the south.
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