News Environment
Kansas county baling straw to help curb ‘banner year’ for blue-green algae

After seeing an earlier-than-normal outbreak of blue-green algae in April at Lake Shawnee, three Shawnee County waterways are now taking part in an experimental pilot program attempting to allay the threat of future blue-green algae outbreaks this summer.

The county in May placed bales of barley straw at Lake Shawnee, Central Park Pond and the Doran Rock Garden Pond. According to research from Rutgers University’s New Jersey Agriculture Experiment Station, barley straw has shown to help prevent blue-green algae blooms, although it does not kill existing algae. | READ MORE