A Camas High School student has launched a personal experiment at Fallen Leaf Lake to determine if a natural filtration system can reduce the excess nutrients that fuel toxic blue-green algae blooms. Emily Jiang, a rising senior, designed and built a 4-by-7-foot floating island to test a chemical-free method of improving water quality in the local recreation spot.

According to reporting by The Columbian, Jiang and her father, Lipin Wang, placed the raft in the lake on July 3. The project targets phosphorus, a nutrient that triggers the growth of cyanobacteria. These toxic blooms have historically led to health warnings for Clark County residents and pet owners. Jiang told the Camas Post-Record she was motivated by community accounts of people becoming ill and dogs dying after exposure to the lake water.

The island is planted with native wetland species designed so that the roots dangle directly into the water column. This configuration is intended to allow the plants to absorb phosphorus and other nutrients before they can be consumed by algae. Jiang intends to monitor the experiment over the coming months by comparing the growth and phosphorus absorption of the island plants against control plants grown at her home to evaluate if the method is a viable, scalable strategy for lake restoration.

Fallen Leaf Lake is a frequent destination for local recreation, though its management has been a subject of ongoing study. A 2023 Lakes Management Plan draft previously indicated the body of water was not recommended for formal treatment at that time. Jiang’s independent effort serves as a test case for whether community-driven, biological solutions can address the recurring blooms without traditional chemical interventions.

Source: Camas student’s project aims to tackle algae bloom in Fallen Leaf Lake