09/03/2026
📢 Important Safety Update: Understanding Blue-Green Algae
Dear Neighbors,
As we enjoy the warmer months on our lake, the Tipton Lakes Board wants to ensure everyone stays safe and healthy. Blue-green algae (also known as cyanobacteria) can occasionally bloom in our waters when temperatures rise and nutrients accumulate.
Because certain blooms can produce dangerous toxins, we are asking all residents to learn how to identify them and take a few simple steps to protect our families, pets, and water quality.
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🎨 What to Look For: "When in Doubt, Stay Out"
Blue-green algae are not actually plant-based algae; they are bacteria. They can appear quickly and often look like:
• Spilled paint on the water surface (usually bright green, blue-green, or brownish-ert).
• Pea soup or thick green dishwater.
• Parallel green streaks or floating mats along the shoreline.
The Stick Test: If you see a green mass, poke it with a sturdy stick. If it lifts up like long, hairy strands, it is harmless green algae. If it breaks apart into tiny flecks, soup-like particles, or floating film, it is likely blue-green algae.
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🐾 Protect Your Family and Pets
Toxins from a blue-green algae bloom can irritate skin, cause illness if swallowed, and can be fatal to dogs.
• Keep pets on a leash near the water if you notice any unusual discoloration or surface scum. Dogs will drink the water and lick algae off their fur.
• Do not swim or wade through visible algae blooms or water that looks like green pea soup.
• Rinse immediately with clean, fresh water if you, your children, or your pets accidentally encounter a suspected bloom.
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🌱 How You Can Help Prevent Blooms
Algae blooms are fueled by nutrient runoff—specifically phosphorus and nitrogen. We can all do our part on land to keep our lake clean:
• Go Phosphorus-Free: If you fertilize your lawn, ensure the middle number on the bag is "0" (phosphorus-free). Better yet, avoid fertilizing lawns within 50 feet of the shoreline.
• Pick Up Pet Waste: Dog waste contains high levels of phosphorus that wash into the lake during rainstorms.
• Tipton Storm Drain Aware: Keep chemicals and yard waste from entering storm drains. Drains enter the lake!
• Grow a Shoreline Buffer: Consider planting native, deep-rooted grasses or shrubs along your waterfront to naturally filter out chemical runoff.
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📞 See Something? Say Something.
If you spot a suspected bloom, please avoid the area and report it to the Association Office so we can evaluate the site and notify the community if necessary.
Thank you for helping us keep our lake safe, clean, and beautiful for everyone!
Sincerely,
Dave Borcherding- President
Jennifer Christie- Lake Committee Chair
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Blue-green algae is a nickname for aquatic cyanobacteria. The toxin it produces can cause harm to people and pets.
