From the Queens Chronicle:
Area resident Sharon Wohlgemuth and her friends noticed the red-colored algae around June 13 and called 311. It took over the pond and emitted a foul odor. “I come here everyday,” Wohlgemuth said. “I visit with friends, walk and read. Nothing like this ever happened here before.”
She called state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside), who reached out to the Parks Department. When contacted by the Queens Chronicle, the agency sent the following statement: “After noticing the presence of red algae in the Bowne Park pond, we consulted with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation to advise on a course of treatment. A NYS DEC biologist and environmental engineer visited the site and recommended flushing the system with fresh, cool water. We have been following these recommendations and will continue to monitor the site. In addition, our plumbers will soon make repairs to the pond’s aeration system.”
But James Cervino, a marine biologist and environmental chairman of Community Board 7, said he was very concerned about the condition. “Red algae can be toxic and dangerous to humans and animals,” Cervino said. “I need to know more specifics like what the species is and other technical data.”
DEC officials said Tuesday the state Department of Health has not completed its testings, but warned residents there may be some toxicity associated with it. “The state DOH would like to advise the public to avoid direct contact with the bloom,” officials said.
Cervino, who is also affiliated with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, said it is probably one of two species of red algae that can cause liver damage or paralysis in severe cases.
He indicated the red algae condition is caused by excessive nutrients in the water, low oxygen, high temperatures and lack of water circulation. “As the algae grows, it produces a toxin to kill each other off,” he added. “Parks needs to clean out the pond.”
The marine biologist, who said he is “very passionate” about the topic, said it’s necessary to stop the source of pollution, which is probably a combination of sewage, plant nutrients and animal waste.
24 comments:
So the aeration system is neglected until it completely fails. Than nobody could care less. Than the inevitable stench produced by a large body of stagnant water occurs.
Now all the caring citizens are looking into the problem, consulting with experts. Oh my, its toxic , its dangerous, oh my liver.
Quick, they need a 10 million dollar federal grant to address the problem. After all its to save the turtles and the frogs livers.
So the tax payers of this great nation will be asked to shell out millions to clean up a mess of the local inhabitants creation. Of coarse the vast majority of that money will never make it to that lake. Gee I wonder what will become of it?
Who says Robert Moses is dead?
What a scam, aren't people feed up of this endless nonsense.
Oh wait a minute, NY states population is dropping faster than a lead ball in sand. You just have to love nyc progressives and their inventive ways to obtain money.
The locals are dumping too much bread (yeast) in the water compounded by sloppy non existent fall cleanups
They need to run some irrigation hose and a good 4 - 8 horsepower 240 volt pump and filter and get that water filtered, aerated and circulating.
----Now watch them go spend 5 times what that equipment will cost on surveys & experts to tell them so. By then everything will be dead and they will simply drain it and leave it that way like the park reflecting pools & fountains. ---Its only Queens
Just saw two dead turtles yesterday. Also, there was a duck with 6 ducklings last week - now gone!
Hope they did not become someone's dinner!!! Or a Bloomturd target!!!! I'm still seeing Asians remove fish from the water!!!
This park, like the neighborhood, has declined terribly since my childhood in the 60s.
We need new leadership in the Bowne Park Civic Assn. Everyone should join - they need some new blood!
And everyone must keep calling 311, try to get past the morons answering the phones, and COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN!!!!!
Also - pick up a piece of garbage once in a while! Everyone can help!
""there was a duck with 6 ducklings last week - now gone!""
They became Asian dinner !
Now with most the ducklings and Peking ducks gone in Queens these Asians are going east to Manhasset Vally park (by Macys) on the #51 bus to poach birds.
--They like them young--Especially ducklings according to the cops. Most these criminal savages have no ID and always give the names of relitives "Lee" when busted. All the Peking ducks are now gone (there were at least 5)
Politicians like things named after themselves. Let's call it Bloomberg's Scum Pond and be done with it!!!
Parks will send UNPROTECTED workers, or volunteers to clean out this toxic lake.
When they call in sick they will be harassed.
Trust me, I know from personal experience. Especially in District 7.
if in fact asians or others are eating the fowl and fish from this pond, would not the local hospitals have teated them for this "TOXIC DISEASE" ,by now ?
have the environmentalists gone to far to scare ,again ?
maybe the facts should be determined first ?
Didn't understand the "Who says Robert Moses is dead" comment. If he were still in charge this wouldn't have occurred. And to those who you have proposed low cost, common sense solutions, please complete and submit the 100 page VENDEX pre qualification package prior. Thank you.
Credos to the residents of the nab who called attention to this problem! This is the reason why our wildlife has been disappearing. I had no idea how neglected it had become. It saddens me that our city could be so dispassionate towards these animals. Now that I am aware of the red algae problem too, I will DEFINITELY be on the lookout for the red algae and will call it in as well. Tks to the marine biologist as well for his heroic efforts as well.
Oh bullsh*t the VENDEX pre qualification app is 8 pages.
I'd pass it but NEVER work for the f_ing city it takes up to 18 months to get paid. Inspectors are late, never show up every step of the way or want to find a paper bag green hundred dollar bills to prevent delays.
You waste too much time and lose money.
That pond is doomed like the reflecting pools and fountains in Corona Park. Remember its IN QUEENS not Manhattan
You waste too much time and lose money.
That pond is doomed like the reflecting pools and fountains in Corona Park. Remember its IN QUEENS not Manhattan
YOU GOT THAT RIGHT - THE PEOPLE IN QUEENS HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO EXPECTATIONS FOR ANYTHING FIRST RATE - LOOK HOW THE LOCAL ELECTEDS BULLY THEM ABOUT AND THE WAY FOR A PITTANCE THEY CAN BUY THE LOCALS TO DO THEIR BIDDING.
i walk each day at one of three parks in N.E.Queens. i chose to walk and observe the pond at Bowne Park today ,at 6:30-7:30 P.M..
the water was not red from any red algae. it did not smell. it looked the same as usual. a bubbling was observed ,in the center,from some source.
there were some small branches and small leaves in the water.
our area did receive high winds and thunder/lightening on Sat.
i asked a few young people if they smelled anything ? the answer was ...NO.
two fisherman were catching fish and returning them to the pond. there were turtles swimming. i saw no ducks or ducklings.
a young man ,of Korean ancestry and a bio/chemistry major from Stonybrook U.,said that the feeding of bread to the fish and turtles has a negative affect.he said that the POND WAS FINE .he had recently caught a 18" karp.
i suggested that he comment to the Q.C website, because of the biological terms he was using.
he said that a lady had approached him and his wife to warn them about the pond. he said she seemed to be offended that they were enjoying the park, until he spoke in an articulate speech pattern.
if you read the original post closely, there are the words: , PROBABLY,MAYBE, CAN BE, stated. that does not mean that the POND" IS TOXIC."
BEWARE OF THE SCARE TACTICS BY ACTIVISTS....
The DEC said the pond was toxic, but you say it isn't? What kind of expert are you?
Wait - it isn't a Lib/Dem/Communist conspiracy??
Merely Activists with a capital "A" are responsible for scaring the public???
Gramps, your denial of basic safety for our neighbors and cleaning up of Bowne Pond - which, no question about it, had a toxic "red tide" for at least five days last week - is getting really old.
The biggest problem with Bowne Pond is the same as what was happening at Kissena Lake for decades: the DEC has cut of the natural springs at Bowne Pond - which is colder and more basic - and replaced it with piped in upstate reservoir water, which is warmer and more acidic.
Because of the mismatch of chemistry in the pond, there have been longstanding issues with oxygen depletion and too much organic matter.
At Kissena Lake, the Parks Department did a partial fix by A) adding in partial mative acquifer water and B) removing parts of the wall to allow for native vegetation to help filter out nutrients that wash into the lake. It wasn't a perfect fix, but it's much better there than before.
Bowne Pond needs a complete overhaul, including reconnecting the springs to the pond, removing the retaining wall - which Robert Moses built, much to the detriment of the pond itself - and reestablishing native plants on the edge of the pond.
I have historic photos of what Bowne Pond looked like a century ago without its retaining walls and with native vegetation - it's pretty great, and there's no reason that it can't look like that again. If anyone would like a copy, please contact me through QC.
Paul Graziano
The pond has 2 "fountains" in it that usually are run during warm months to aerate and keep the water from becoming stagnant. I haven't seen them on lately and they are relatively new. Possibly broken? That would be a shocker
Yes it needs a complete overhaul. What's the pricetag? 5 million 10 million?
Oh please, any money allocated towards anything in these notorious progressive districts never goes to the projects it was intended for.
Add to the fact their is little or no accountability, never has been.
How is it possible that so much money is spent in these areas and they always look like slums?
Decent people moved out a long time ago.
Now with most the ducklings and Peking ducks gone in Queens..
But there are fairly new two puppy mills on the corner of Prince St. and Northern Blvd.
What a lovely assortment of urban sidewalk weeds growing around the perimeter of the pond.
I'm so happy that our parks department has taken the time out of their hectic schedule to grant us such wonderful flora.
Queens commissioner of parks Dorothy Lewandowski’s staff should notify the media as to this "out of the box" solution to weeding. Perhaps if the weeds grow taller and thicker, park goers won't have to worry about the stench of stagnant water because they won't be able to get close enough to see the pond no less utilize their olfactory senses to determine that something is wrong.
Yes it needs a complete overhaul. What's the pricetag? 5 million 10 million?
Oh please, any money allocated towards anything in these notorious progressive districts never goes to the projects it was intended for.
Add to the fact their is little or no accountability, never has been.
How is it possible that so much money is spent in these areas and they always look like slums?
Decent people moved out a long time ago.
*******
Are you kidding me?
The Bowne Park / Broadway-Flushing neighborhood looks like a slum?
Progressive District? You mean the one that voted for former Republican State Senator Frank Padavan for 38 years straight?
What drugs are you on?
Didn't they do a complete renovation of the pond less than 20 years ago and dredge it about 10 years ago? Just working off of dusty memories...
What we need is a "Parkie" a.k.a. full time Park Keeper. When N.Y.C. parks had a full time parkies playgrounds and parks like Bowne Park were in much better condition.
What we need is a "Parkie" a.k.a. full time Park Keeper. When N.Y.C. parks had a full time parkies playgrounds and parks like Bowne Park were in much better condition.
NAW, ALL OUR EFFORTS (READ YOUR TAXES) HAVE TO GO INTO DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND QUEENS JUST RESPONDS BY SITTING THERE AND TELLING YOURSELVES LAME EXCUSES JUSTIFYING YOUR TREATMENT AS THEY CASUALLY CRAP ALL OVER YOU.
**"has 2 "fountains" in it that usually are run**
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Doesn't the mayor annually place an "all fountains off except Manhattan" order until the US Open to save on maintenance, water and electricity ?
This problem is his own fault and he should pay for the remedy with his own money.
You CANT turn simply turn pond pumps off for months. Everything clogs with algae and freshwater gastropods. Then your F_cked and have to clean the whole system. Nozzles, jets, valves, sensors ITS AN ENORMOUS EXPENSIVE UNDERTAKING.
The mayor is a clueless jackass when it comes to this stuff.
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