Colorado Springs officials schedule public meeting to update aeration project for Prospect Lake

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Summer closings of Prospect Lake in 2019 and 2020 have led the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department to consider installing an aeration system to prevent the growth of toxic blue-green algae.

The algae blooms killed many fish in the lake and posed a health hazard to people and pets.

A public meeting will be held Monday evening to present two proposed designs for aeration systems; those designs resulted from feedback provided by citizens and stakeholders involved with the project.

"We had a consultant help us choose those designs because they were the least restrictive to boating traffic," said Parks & Rec manager Kim King.

People will be allowed to submit more feedback during the meeting, and participate in an online survey that begins after the meeting.

Officials said that installing aeration systems in several areas of the lake will increase oxygen levels and improve water quality; funding for the chosen system will come from the federal American Rescue Plan Act.

Pikeview Reservoir -- owned by Colorado Springs Utilities -- has an aeration system but it didn't prevent an algae build-up that temporarily closed that body of water in 2019.

Utility spokesman Steve Berry said that conditions at the time may have overwhelmed the aeration system there.

"We also had to install measures to keep birds from damaging it," he said. "I don't know if you can install a system that can remove algae entirely. It's something we're always watching for."

King said that one proposed system for Prospect Lake is primarily underwater, while another is similar to Pikeview, with parts above water.

"The one design that only has the system on the bottom of the lake, turns over the water in approximately two days," she explained. "If you add the surface structures, the turnover is about one day. So obviously, much better -- much, much better -- either way we go, with the fact that we'll be able to improve that lake health."

The underwater system, King said, will cost around $23,000 while the other system -- using sonic wavelengths to target bacteria -- will cost around $150,000.

"Both have the capability of applying enzymes to the lake as part of treating the water, so we likely wouldn't need to continue a separate treatment that we currently do," she said.

The public meeting on Monday, March 6, will be from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Pikes Peak Regional Building, 2880 International Circle.

For more information, visit: https://coloradosprings.gov/ProspectLakeAeration.