A piecemeal effort to heal the ailing Springfield Lake may become better defined and more united in coming weeks.
The lake’s waters have continually tested high for algae and bacterial contamination and it remains closed to swimming this year, as it was in 2019.
The primary reason, according to a Springfield Lake Task Force summary report that became public in May, is contamination from sanitary, septic and stormwater sources.
From 2006 to 2019, nitrogen levels rose 196% and phosphorous jumped 119%, according to the report. The two nutrients are causing algae levels to climb above safe levels.
In the summary report, an 80-year-old sanitary infrastructure in Lakemore is highlighted as a problem, but officials from Lakemore and Springfield Township agree it’s not the only source. They also agree that something needs to be done to restore the health of the lake.
On Monday, officials from Lakemore, Springfield Township, the Summit County Engineer’s Office and the Ohio EPA will hold a conference in what could become a concerted effort to address the sources of pollution.
The meeting is an achievement of sorts after the Ohio EPA was accused in the summary report and by Springfield Township and Lakemore officials of being less than helpful at times.
On Friday, Trustee Dean Young characterized the Ohio EPA’s role as disappointing.
"We have been working to try to get EPA involvement," Young said. "To date they have not been helpful."
But hours later, the Monday meeting was in the works and Young was more optimistic.
In addition to Monday’s conference call, Lakemore Mayor Richard Cole is hoping to hold a public meeting of the Springfield Lake Task Force on July 27 at the Springfield Lake Roller Rink. The venue is large enough to accommodate the public for their questions and still maintain social distancing protocols, he said in an interview Friday.
He said the lake’s health is a vital, and sometimes contentious, issue that requires the public be informed.
"I really want this to be a public meeting so people can see what Lakemore is doing to remedy [issues] at the lake," Cole said.
The meeting remains tentative, however, with details expected to be finalized early this week.
Cole said the village is already moving to remedy some issues by developing retention basins for runoff from heavy rains and to lessen the pressure on the aging water system.
Tracy Fast, who serves as administrator and fiscal officer of the village, said land has already been identified and acquired for basins. In addition, the village has purchased ditch-digging equipment to expedite the project.
It also is communicating with residents on how to reduce pesticide and herbicide use and otherwise lessen damage to the lake.
"It’s not going to be a quick fix and it’s not something we can do one time and never worry about again," Fast said. "We are going to have to stay on top of it."
Like Springfield’s Young, Cole and Fast believe a united effort is necessary for a long-term solution.
Cole hopes the public meeting will address concerns from some residents that the village is not moving fast enough to grapple with the problem.
"This is a top priority of this administration and I’ve stated such from day one," the mayor said.
Alan Ashworth can be reached at aashworth@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @newsalanbeaconj.
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