Four Island Lake Summer Usage Updates By Fred Hicks Lake Quality Advisory Committee Chair (LQAC)As we enter the summer season, the LQAC will implement several major changes that we would like to inform the Bear Valley Membership of. These changes are necessary to improve the health and safety of our lakes in terms of water quality and recreational use. Water quality: For the 2024 summer season, the LQAC wants to inform the community that Bear Valley Springs Association has continued is contract with a professional licensed aquatic applicator who will be treating the lakes every two weeks from April through October 2024. These treatments will help to control algae, Cyanobacteria, and vegetation. They will also be applying a lake dye as needed to reduce sunlight penetration and will add bacteria/enzymes to digest organic matter (bottom muck). The treatments will be every two weeks. During these times, the lakes will be closed for recreational use until 12:00 noon. The treatment schedule will be posted on the BVSA website, in the Whiting Center, and on the bulletin boards located by the lakes, and is listed below: Cyanobacteria (Blue-green algae) update: Four Island Lake is monitored throughout the year and is sampled for cyanobacteria as necessary during the summer months. A lake dashboard is posted every two weeks from May through October on the bulletin boards located at both access points of Four Island Lake. Cyanobacteria information is reported to the state as changes occur. For up-to-date cyanobacteria status, please visit the California Water Boards’ Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) Reports Map page and look up Four Island Lake by either scanning the accompanying QR code or visiting the following link:https://mywaterquality.ca.gov/.../freshwater_events.html If Four Island Lake is not listed on the California Water Boards’ HAB website, this means there has not been a cyanobacteria bloom listed, and the lake is not currently under an advisory tier for cyanobacteria blooms.