PUEBLO – With high temps and a lack of rain in the Steel City, the water flow at Pueblo’s Riverwalk is low.
These recent conditions have caused a huge algae bloom and it’s something Riverwalk officials said they haven’t seen since 2002.
The issue became so serious that emergency treatment had to happen last week at the Riverwalk and Lake Elizabeth. The good news is that water quality has improved since then and the amount of algae has decreased.
Lynn Clark, executive director of the Pueblo Riverwalk, said, “The aesthetics of the channel are really important…the Riverwalk’s a visual place with beautiful gardens, beautiful sculpture and when the water is not right it really impacts the visitor experience. There was a little bit of odor as well.”
Clark said there will be follow up treatment. The strategy moving forward includes some different applications. One is an aeration system to promote oxygenation and beginning in 2019 there will be visits from a licensed SOLitude biologist to mitigate algae.
