Lakeland PBS
❤ Donate
  • Home
  • Support
  • Watch Now
    • Livestream
    • Local Shows
    • Watch Online
    • Schedule
    • Our Channels
    • Webcam
  • Lakeland News
    • News Feed
    • Featured Segments
    • Watch a News Story
    • Watch a Sports Story
  • Shop
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • State Legacy Funding
    • Meetings & Public Filings
    • Education
    • Employment
  • ❤ DONATE

Breaking News
Updated: Texas Man Charged in Rape of 11-Year-Old Girl in Bemidji

Serpent Lake Has Its Clearest Water Since 1991

Anthony Scott — Mar. 26 2019
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Serpent Lake in Crosby is home to fishing tournaments, boat races, and just about anyone trying to enjoy a summer day. However, the water clarity in the lake had been decreasing, but new efforts have reversed that trend and Serpent Lake is as clear as it’s been since 1991.

“Our biggest factor was phosphorous coming into the lake,” Terry Tichenor, Serpent Lake Association President, said.

Phosphorous is an element that algae and other plants love to feed on. When phosphorous gets in a lake, algae grow, and the water quality and clarity decreases. Most of Deerwood’s storm water was running right into Serpent Lake full of phosphorous.

“As the water runs down the street it picks up debris, it picks up particles from the ground, and that all has […] phosphorous.” Melissa Barrick, Crow Wing Soil & Water Conservation District Manager, said.

To combat this, the Crow Wing Soil & Water Conservation District dug basins to control the water and filter the phosphorous.

“It’s a system that collects all of this runoff in the city of Deerwood, runs it through these settling ponds and filters,” Tichenor said. “It uses iron filings to extract the phosphorous from the water, and allows the water to percolate fairly clarified into the lake.”

Another reason why Serpent Lake was being flooded with phosphorous is because the city of Deerwood was using a connecting lake as a discharge site for their wastewater. Barrick and her team performed an Alum Treatment to help remove the phosphorous before it reaches Serpent Lake.

“An Alum Treatment is a chemical you put in lakes to bind the phosphorous to the bottom of the lake,” Barrick said.

Their efforts have removed 78 pounds of phosphorous, and stopped over 20 tons of algae from potentially growing.

The filtration system has not only improved the water clarity of Serpent Lake, but it has also prevented homes that are right on the water from potential flooding.

“The 100-year rain seemed to come every five years,” Michael Aulie, Deerwood Mayor, said. “It was major flooding down here, pretty much everything was underwater.”

Thanks to the basins, the flooding has decreased, and Serpent Lake has a water clarity of 18 feet, the best it’s been since 1991.

The Serpent Lake Association measures water clarity on a monthly basis to ensure phosphorous is not re-entering the lake.

Lakeland News is member supported content. Please consider supporting Lakeland News today.

Donate Today
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

By — Anthony Scott

Related Posts

Kinship Partners Hosts 37th Annual Food & Coat Drive in Crosby

Northwoods Experience: Crosby Hosts Highland Games to Celebrate Annual Heritage Days

In Focus: Crosby Kicks Off Heritage Days with a Night to Unite

UPDATE: Boil Water Advisory Issued for Brainerd Residents

  • Program Schedule

Get the free PBS App

roku
Apple TV
FireTV
AndroidTV
Google Play Store
Apple Store

Connect with Us

Watch Lakeland PBS Live Stream!

Contact Us

Directions
Submit an Event
Submit a Video or Photo
Problem with the Website
Need to contact us about something else? Please visit our contact us page for more options.

About Us

Lakeland PBS understands the media that people are exposed to make a significant impact on their lives. Our hope is that the six channels we broadcast along with our online presence provide people with media experiences that make a positive impact on their lives.

Lakeland PBS is where you want to be!

108 Grant Ave NE, Bemidji, MN 56601 | 800-292-0922
KAWE Public Profile | KAWB Public Profile | Cable Provider Channel List | Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2023 Lakeland PBS. All Right Reserved.

How would you like to show your support?

Monthly Contribution

One-Time Contribution

Thank-You Gift

I would like to select a thank-you gift

No Gift

Put 100% of my gift towards programming