Following last summer’s problems with water quality at Piddinghoe Pond, the Newhaven and Seaford Sailing Club has been liaising with the Environment Agency on ways to control algae growth.
Duncan Barrow from the club reports that the first step has been to place barley straw ‘sausages’ in the sailing lake; there are between 1.6 and 2 tonnes of straw around the periphery of the lake and around the island, marked with buoys and floats.
As a second measure they are also adding a dye into the water. Duncan explains, “The dye is made from food dyes and is specifically for the purpose of suppressing weeds and algae in lakes and fisheries. It is safe for people and animals. The idea is that the dye adds a faint blue tinge to the water which reduces red light available for photosynthesis, hence limiting algae growth (hopefully).”
For further information contact info@nssc.org.uk
