Denver Gets Grip on Green Goo in City Park Lake

By Ashleigh Oldland

Globs of green algae were sucked out of City Park’s Ferril Lake on Wednesday morning.

Denver Public Works vacuum trucks were cleaning up algae blooms that have disturbed the scenery at the popular lake.

Juan Marsh, Denver parks superintendent for the east district, said the vacuuming will continue today and Friday, along with continued applications of algaecides.

“I don’t know if we can remove all of it,” Marsh said. “But in about three weeks, we should have it in nice shape for the (Democratic National) Convention.”

Marsh said the algae has attracted several new species of wildlife to the park, including egrets.

He said the city has been discussing weekly water tests to help prevent the problem from recurring.

Marsh said a recently repaired fountain in the middle of the lake should help keep the water circulating and also decrease algae growth.

The algae has prevented the rental of paddle boats, and even the resident geese are choosing more time on shore rather than swimming through the smelly slime.

Originally published by Ashleigh Oldland, Rocky Mountain News.

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