White Paper: What Is Destroying Our Ponds And Lakes?

By Dino Pezzimenti

It is rare to find a lake or a pond that does not have a cloud of green or stringy pond scum in it. But this is not just an eyesore; it has become an issue that can no longer be ignored.

The cloud of green is a form of algae. The green cloud (generally green, though it can be other colors) is called an algal bloom. Many of these blooms have millions of algae cells per cubic centimeter. As long as there is enough food, carbon dioxide, and sunlight the algal bloom will grow. These algae, also called phytoplankton, are a key component in the food cycle. They are necessary to sustain life as they supply oxygen and are a food for higher forms.

The stringy pond scum are also algae and sometimes called pond moss. Unlike the phytoplankton they are of little benefit.