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Dirty Lakes Cost Menomonie Economy $40M Each Year, Researchers Estimate

Outbreaks Of Lake Algae Have Become Perennial Issue For City

By
Aaron Carolson (CC-BY-SA)

New research suggests the city of Menomonie in Dunn County could see a nearly $40 million economic boom if phosphorus levels are reduced in its lakes.

A group of 10 undergraduate students from across the U.S. have spent the last two summers studying how outbreaks of noxious blue green algae in Tainter Lake and Lake Menomin have impacted the city of Menomonie and neighboring communities. The research is part of a $280,000 National Science Foundation Grant. University of Wisconsin-Stout professor Nels Paulson, who directs the study, said one main finding was how much economic impact algae free lakes could have.

“Conservatively, the estimates from a really, really thorough economic analysis was about $36.6 million a year of economic input to the community if we were just to clean up this watershed,” Paulson said.

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Researchers estimate an additional 3,000 UW-Stout students would stay in Menominee over the summer if it weren’t for the toxic algae.