Demand re-testing of Milford Lake! The holiday weekend is upon us and the Lake is closed and they don't plan on retesting it until after labor day becasue they are "too busy"! They aren't testing in the open waters either, so of course there is going to be algae along the shore. It's a shame that many dogs have died, but leave your dogs at home! There are MANY things that are OK for humans but NOT ok for dogs. Call KDHE to demand a retest before the holiday weekend...785-368-7391 or email tlanger@kdheks.gov. ALSO the flooding is another reason the algae is so bad. We NEED the the lake lowered & the water to start moving for things to get better. Please call the Executive Office of the Army Corp of Engineers in KC and let them know we want the lake lowered! 816-389-3205. Milford Lake generates millions of dollars for the local, regional and state economy....and they don't have time to retest. It will be so sad if these businesses don't survive 2 summers of bad flooding and now algae! DO YOUR PART...WE NEED OUR LAKE BACK!!
You mean they won't allow people on the lake at all? What are they going to do to people who are on the lake b/c I was driving on the dam today and saw several boats out there, and no one was being chased down by cops! As for the dogs dying, God, that's horrible! I feel so bad for those dogs, but where were the owners when these dogs were in or drinking the water? I mean, the warnings or advisories have been out for several weeks, you can't tell me people didn't know! I saw that some lady from, Milford, I think, had interviews on TV and was blaming the state for this, blaming everyone BUT herself! She sure wouldn't take responsibility for her actions, or lack thereof, that caused the dog's death. How much of all of this now is her doing? I'd love to know how much of an economic impact this is going to have on all the surrounding businesses and towns if the KDHE doesn't retest. They're gonna make the whole are a freakin ghost town! I'll definitely call both the KDHE and the Corps. There's not a whole heck of a lot of things to do here in the summer, but having the lake right here has been soooo nice! I hate the thought of not being able to go out for the last big weekend of the year!
I know several people that have been using the lake this whole time and nothing has happened to any of them! It shouldn't be completly closed, it should be at your own risk! Not ALL of the lake is covered with algae & they are ONLY testing shoreline & not open water! For those who WANT to use the lake they SHOULD be able to use the lake. The conditions change daily and they should be testing more often!!
The algae is already everywhere, upstream and down, and letting water out of Milford isn't going to cause any problems that aren't already there. I did some research and found that it needs several things to be able to bloom: nearly stagnet water, little wind, lots of heat, little movement. Just opening the dam and letting out some of the 13+ feet of water that's flooding the area would help stop the bloom. The lake needs to breathe, to turn over, and it can't if it isn't drained at all. I think it's been at least a couple of months since they let any water out. The algae, on its way downstream, wouldn't have a chance of surviving simply b/c of the movement, the wind, etc. Opening the dam seems like the best thing they would do for the lake! Downstream flooding is over and has been for a while, so it seems like there's no reason not to open the gates!
Sometimes, the public isn't given the entire story for our own safety. We'll probably never really be privy to exactly why the lake isn't being retested until after Labor Day, but it could be for a myriad of reasons. Just to err on the side of caution, I'd rather listen to the advisement of professionals.
I was told they aren't retesting because they are "too busy"! Again, if you don't want to use the lake then don't, but there are some people who still want to and should be able to use it. It should be up to the individual!
it could be they wont open it up cause there are still zebra mussels that they are trying to eliminate from last year that got into the lake from an unknown source and will only spread to another water source if the dam is opened.
I even had a friend who was shore fishing and was told to stop fishing. When he asked what would happen if he didn't they admitted nothing would. So they don't really have a straight answer as to why people can't be using it at their own risk.
Look again at everything, the flooding downstream is over, so that can't be it. Also, the zebra mussels have been in the lake for a couple of years and have been up and downstream of here and yet they've been letting water out til about 2 months ago and letting water out above us. Why isn't it ok to question things that don't make sense? It's not like everyone's demanding state secrets or anything-it's asking the state why won't they do what they can to try to help the lake businesses and communities, and asking them to let us all make our own decisions about whether or not to go on/in it. I'm sure if they retested and the results were bad again, then all the businesses and people would just live with it, but they're not even willing to give it one more chance before 1 of the busiest weekends of the year! Imagine being the small gas station or marina or campground owner and being told we're gonna ruin your revenue for those days and we're too busy to see if there's even a chance to save it. Tough luck! I bet most of you would be asking for a retest if you were in their shoes!
I was told they aren't retesting because they are "too busy"! Again, if you don't want to use the lake then don't, but there are some people who still want to and should be able to use it. It should be up to the individual! But, it isn't up to the individual, because the individuals neither own it nor are responsible for it. They have a right to ask that it be reopened, but if it isn't officially then what can be done?
Imagine being the small gas station or marina or campground owner and being told we're gonna ruin your revenue for those days and we're too busy to see if there's even a chance to save it. Tough luck! I bet most of you would be asking for a retest if you were in their shoes! I certainly would, and I would be sore about missing out on that needed money. But I would also have to realize the risks involved in owning a business that depends on revenue from lake traffic--revenue that would of course be at risk if the lake isn't used. I truly empathize with them, but with free enterprise comes free risk.
The business owners should make their government work for them and petition their local politicians for immediate answers. It could be that the testing costs extensive money that isn't quite available right now (or that the city/town wants to use elsewhere). It could be that the testing is low on the priority listing. Either way, if the right people can be convinced they have the authority to put pressure on those who can get the testing and solution done. But I believe the petitioning would be far more effective coming from the business owners; they have far more to lose than a weekend of fun.
I am like this if it is not safe and they wont retest untill after labor day then that is fine. it is better to to be safe than sorry. just because no one human has died or anything happen to them does not mean it can't happen. People are just going to have to find something else to do.
I say if you feel you want to take a chance then GO FOR IT, keep in mind there are some risks you know...like death! It's a lake, seriously it's not that bad not having a lake for awhile. I'm sure there are plenty of other things to do than to take a big risk just to go to a lake.
Honestly you won't catch me anywhere near lake water. I heard that some dogs have died because of water contact at Milford. After all the stories of the bacteria and what it can do along with the amoeba brain infection deaths recently within the U.S.... Nope, not me. Sorry people are losing business cause I know how the economy is but I personally would not take the risk to put my child in the water that even MIGHT be dangerous.
It's not just about having the lake for something to do, it about survival of the mom & pop business that surround the lake. And it's the businesses that are now reaching out to the public for their help, because these "officials" aren't listening to them. They are posting fliers with some of the information that was in my 1st post to have YOU THE PEOPLE help! That is where i got some of info from and decided to make a post on here, TO HELP these businesses that some are on the verge of backrutcy!
I def agree with you there My4K-even without all the risks of the lake water I still won't get in it. IMO it's just way to dirty and ever since I was a kid I've been scared of everything -bugs, snakes, things in lake water I cant see LOL. Also thats more the reason I wouldn't go there or even take my dog with me, way to many risks.
If you go to any of the businesses around the lake, like I did just a little while ago on my way to Clay Center to my dentist-I stopped at a gas station near State Park-you will see signs on their doors saying pretty much what the original post said. I asked about it, and was told that the business owners are the ones who started the whole thing, they're only asking for the CHANCE to save the last busy weekend of the year, for their businesses! It's not about people finding something else to do, it's about small businesses that are being given the finger by the KDHE and Corps when they're told that they're just "too busy" to bother to retest this week! If you ask a business owner, they'll tell you that if they retest and the algae's still bad, fine, they'll live w/ it, but to not even be given a chance, that's what isn't right. Call MWR and ask them about Military Marina, about how badly this has affected them. Call the marinas around the lake and ask them. Ask some of the campground offices what this is going to do to them. I'm sure some of you have or have had small businesses--put yourself in the owner's shoes and see how you'd like it if you were told you're going to lose some of your year's major revenue and you just have to live with it b/c the "powers that be" aren't too busy to shut you down, but are too busy to doublecheck the issue for you!
Well those businesses NEED to understand that IT IS DANGEROUS to be at the lake! I doubt there's many people willing to to take a risk, as big as their life, to go to the lake. I understand it's hard for the businesses, but a few people trying to get it retested might not help too much...well considering it's this coming up weekend :-/
I dont really get in the lake anyways....Where I'm from all the lakes and rivers have gators in them so you really dont swim in them haha. I hope it all clears out so that anyone that planned to go to Milford can still go and have a good time though.
I'd rather be safe then sorry. But if Milford is a danger..There are other lakes that have been cleared in the State of Kansas. Why not just go to another lake if going to the lake is a must for you (people in general) during Labor Day weekend?
I agree with the 2 above. Even if there's one case of death / injury or even just a chance noone should be going to Milford (IMO). Yes, it's affecting the small businesses around there, but if they can't retest it there's a reason behind it. Those businesses might lose out on money, but unfortunately there's not much they can do to fix the problem :-/
Wow as I read this I realize how scared people and naive people in KS are. I have grown up around lakes all my life. I understand that Blue Green Algae is always in the lake. I just don't understand why people who cannot control their pets are holding the rest of the state of Ks hostage. Maybe the state should test in various spots. Not just one. I am all for the small business owners. What I really think in all this is that KS is scared even though they have posted all summer long. Oh wait I am not dead and I have been in the lake all year. Oh wait I don't drink the water. Pets do. Holy cow people think about what we are saying. Do some research on your own? Governments don't tell us eveything that is correct. I also understand that we are to trust our government. But in today's economy should we. Maybe it is a way to protect the state from a lawsuit. Holy cow our state can barely survie now. Imagine one lawsuit from a PET owner. Oh wait my family is perfectly fine once again and they have been in the water. What did they tell us if we wanted to be in the water? Come home and take an immediate shower. Oh that is what we did. How about anyone else? Have you been in the water this year? Or any year before now. OH NO you have the BLUE GREEN ALGAE disease. Buy my coffin now. Really we went to zebra mussels too. Holy cow they have been here for years and they already are downstream. So that cannot be it. Now what. Maybe the animals that live in the water are causing the problem. Where do we draw the line? I think the government really needs to look at what they are doing with draining the water? Why is our lake the one holding the water? Why are the lakes upstream from us still dumping water? I know they cannot hold it. Oh wait they are pushing algae too us too but they don't have the problem because the water is moving. Yes there are other lakes but some of us live on this lake year around. This is home. We have grown to know the business owners in the area. But hey if that is what KS has turned in to a bunch of liberal bleeding heart tree huggers then it is time for this kansan to hand over my citezenship to the state of kansas and watch the small businesses die. Oh wait I am not going to do that. i will fight for the business owners and fight for the lake that I love. Those of you that are scared just don't go to the lake! Find something else to do! find somewhere else to go. My family is staying and we will gladly get in the lake and we will support our small businesses. i am there for you for the long haul.
sorry for not being so informed on the lake. my misunderstanding in the amount of years that mussels have been in the lake. it was simply stated as a possible option for why they didnt open up the dam. I feel for the small businessman but your post dont endear me to go give my business to them and im no " liberal bleeding heart tree huggers".
Well let me say one more thing then. I am very passionate about the lake. But there are small businesses out there that do to the lake being at the level it is at and being under the warning all summer that they are very close to being out of business. Part of it is the economy and part is the lake issues. Now i feel for these guys cause this is the one weekend that could keep them afloat and be back to support the fishermen and water enthusiasts next year. I spend my money as much as I can locally at these places. Why go to another lake when we have a great lake right here near us? I hate to see anyone of these businesses lose because of this. Go and support them. Support the local business. They have worked hard for what they have and give back to the community. One year of flood support and algae could do them in. But for the state to come the rescue of one person who complained is outragous. We as a collective group can get them back out there to save our businesses and our lake. For that they are hurting themselves with the state park. How do we as citizens put up with that? We are losing an income that can help the state. So look at those and maybe we can get this going for our friends the small businesses and our friend the lake. Call the KDHE and the US Army Corps of Engineers.
Look, if you ID10t's keep refering to zebra musscles and algea coming down to us I am lose my mind. If you research and go to link below- http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=eax&gage=kcdm7&view=1,1,1,1,1,1 -you will cleary see that the Missouri River has dropped to below Action Stage. So shut your mouths and start asking yourself, if the Missouri River has dropped, why arent they releasing from Milford. There is no answer becouse you "liberal bleeding heart tree huggers" are afraid to ask question or maybe do a but of research. Let me take away your freaking Starbucks and make you drink coffee from the Fort Riley Dining Facility, maybe you will be start asking questions. But until then shut your mouths. DRAIN THE EXCESS WATER OFF THE LAKE, DRAW A CURRENT INTO THE LAKE AND THE ALGEA WILL DISSAPEAR.
I get that the small mom and pop shops are at risk, but that was their risk to take when opening. I am not and will not put the lives of my family at risk just so their doors can stay open. OBVIOUSLY there is a reason they are telling everyone to keep off the lake, so I will follow direction from the professionals, and keep off the lake and go about my daily life. I'd rather be safe then sorry. And like proud wife of a retiree said Milford is not the only lake around, if your needs are that important that you just have to go to a lake there are others around.
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