A gorgeous summer day. Temps in the high 80′s. Slight breeze. Sunny skies. What could be nicer than a day on St. Albans Bay?

Unfortunately, a paddling trip from Hathaway Point to the Bay Store and Black Bridge today only confirmed, up close, the dismal state of the waters in the Bay this year. While the water quality toward the mouth of the bay is still fair, with milfoil just beginning to take over, the weeds are clearly choking the inner bay and the smell is horrible.

Not a single soul was swimming at the Bay Park. Hmmmmm…

Empty St. Albans Bay Park

Strangely quiet at the park for midday on a beautiful summer day.

Where are all the people? Maybe we should get a little closer…  Too bad you can’t smell to get the full effect! The shoreline is choked with slimy, smelly weeds. The shallow swimming area near the beach looks stagnant and brown. No swimmers seem ready to overlook the unpleasant conditions, even to cool off on a hot day. The water looks and feels unhealthy.

Weeds and dead fish

Weeds, foul water, rotting vegetation and dead fish scare swimmers away from St. Albans Bay Park

Paddling became difficult well before we approached the Black Bridge area. Weed growth there is so thick it is very hard to move through and there is a slimy layer of algae topping it all off. Motor boats should definitely avoid this area!

excessive weed growth on St. Albans Bay

Paddles just don't cut it through the tangle of weeds and algae. Kayakers beware!

The SAAWA weed harvester will be running soon and, sadly, we have our work cut out for us!  The phosphorus-rich Bay is growing a bumper crop of weeds this year! We will continue the battle to get it under control to improve the beauty and usability of the Bay but we can use your help to keep the harvester running as much as possible. Not only will it improve usability in the short-term, but it will reduce the quantity of vegetation that decomposes and adds the problem over time.

Please visit SAAWAVT.org to donate to the Weed Harvester Fund. Your donations will enable us to run the harvester longer and make the Bay a nicer place to swim, fish, picnic, and boat. Please help!  Thanks so much.

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