SPRING LAKE — A local water quality expert recently affirmed the success of a 2005 alum treatment in Spring Lake, while also calling for long-term solutions to battle the lake’s challenges moving forward.

Alan Steinman, a research professor at the Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute at Grand Valley State University, made a presentation about Spring Lake on March 21 at the second annual Ottawa County Water Quality Forum. 

The health of Spring Lake has been an ongoing issue for decades. The lake's phosphorus peaked at 300 micrograms per liter in 2003, leading to algal blooms. A 2005 alum treatment reduced phosphorus to below 20 micrograms per liter, but efficacy declined over time. 

Steinman told attendees the $1.1 million alum treatment, which aimed to reduce phosphorus and algal blooms, was effective for 10 to 15 years — longer than initially projected. 

Steinman presented data showing a significant reduction in chlorophyll, phosphorus concentrations and algal blooms following the 2005 treatment, despite some debate over the years whether the treatment was successful.

He addressed those claims recently, indicating that naysayers are "absolutely wrong" to say the treatment failed. 

"I call it a success, but not a permanent success," he said, noting that the treatment, while successful in addressing the immediate symptoms, did not tackle the root causes of the lake's water-quality issues.

During the presentation, Steinman explained that Spring Lake’s unique characteristics contribute to its persistent challenges. 

"Any lake that has a long period of nutrient loading into it will accumulate phosphorus sediment into it," he said. 

He further emphasized that Spring Lake's high iron content exacerbates the problem, leading to substantial phosphorus release under low oxygen conditions.

"We need to start dealing with the disease, not the symptom," he said, advocating for comprehensive watershed management strategies.

As the 2005 treatment’s effectiveness wanes, the lake board faces critical decisions regarding future interventions. Options include another alum application, but Steinman warned that costs are likely to be higher than the previous effort. Potential treatment windows are in April or late October.

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Steinman has also raised concerns about funding processes for lake studies, calling for objective third-party evaluations. 

"There needs to be an objective third party evaluating the process. That would be good governance,” he said. 

The Spring Lake - Lake Board — which includes Spring Lake Village, Crockery Township and Fruitport Township — is expected to provide updates on future treatment decisions and watershed management plans.

— Heather VanDyke covers northern Ottawa County for the Ottawa News Network. Contact her at newsroom@ottawanewsnetwork.org.