By Erin Smith
The members of the Elizabethtown-White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce heard from the Town of White Lake regarding the alum treatment at the lake. Currently, the state has halted the alum treatment process following a fish kill that occurred at the lake during the weekend.
White Lake Town Clerk Brenda Clark passed out a press release to those in attendance at the Chamber lunch meeting. The press release explained the procedures taking place at the lake to correct issues with algae blooms and discoloration.
White Lake Mayor Goldston Womble addressed the Chamber and introduced Diane Lauritsen, a Water Scientist, and John Holz, who owns HAB Aquatics.
Mayor Womble explained, “We, as you are probably aware of, have had some fish dying over at White Lake. We’ve had that happen in the past before. The State was advised of it by some folks at the lake and so the State and some folks at White Lake automatically jumped to the conclusion that the alum treatment we are putting in the lake is causing the killing of the fish. It is not.”
Womble said the fish kill actually began prior to the alum treatment starting.
“It is my understanding, what is causing the fish kill, has everything to do with the high ph level that is in the lake. The treatment we are getting actually helps some in controlling the ph level,” said Womble.
Womble said the State has sent nothing in writing to the Town with regards to the treatment. He added that following the meeting, Town officials were going to contact the state to see what can be done to resume the treatment.
Next, Lauritsen, who specializes in lake water treatment spoke.
“We have recognized how special White Lake is especially scientifically,” said Lauritsen.
She said historically, the lake ph level is low. Last week, she said she measured a ph level of 9.5 last week. Lauritsen said this is an indicator of how much algae is in the lake.
“We’re seeing super saturated conditions and it is all due to the algae. Typically ph levels and dissolved oxygen levels go down at night. Well, we are not seeing all that much of a drop, so it just keeps ratcheting up,” said Lauritsen.
She emphasized alkalinity is what is allowing this ph level to become dangerous.
Finally, Holz addressed the group regarding HAB Aquatic Solutions and the alum treatment process. The company is located in Nebraska and specialize in treating lakes throughout the United States.
He said the alum treatment process is 50 percent complete and is going well.
“Things are going well. We think that this is a temporary set back with the State,” said Holz. 
He added that Town staff told him the first reports of dead fish began coming in to the town office as early as April 30th. Holz said that was prior to the beginning of the alum treatment.
“White Lake has reached a point where it has gotten out of balance. You have a lot more algae in there than you should and that creates problems for everything that lives in the lake including the fish,” said Holz.
He said the alum process helps to lower the ph level which protects the fish. Holy said the way the alum works is it binds to the phosphorus and to the algae and takes it to the bottom of the lake.
Holz said the State is simply being cautious in halting the process until they decide what caused the fish kill.
Town officials were planning to speak to State officials again on Tuesday afternoon with regards to attempting to resume the treatment process.
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