PublishedAugust 10, 2022, 7:31 PM
Canton of BernLake Biel: the seaweed package is very bulky
The green carpet is fragmented, but the evacuation of 400 tons of lake vegetation is not obvious.
At the beach of Täuffelen, bathers turn their backs on the piles of algae.
lematin.ch/Vincent Donzé
Better not get bogged down in a very thick green carpet, at the risk of drowning.
lematin.ch/Vincent Donzé
The formation of a carpet of algae is unprecedented on Lake Bienne. This phenomenon disturbs the authorities, who pass the buck when it comes to eliminating this green mountain. The thickness of the aquatic weeds is around one meter and the company “Bienne Nautic Wasserbau” has a lot to do to clean the surface of the lake, off the Hagneck canal.
The large, fragmented island floats in front of a shallow bay surrounded by reeds. As noted by “Le Journal du Jura”, the carpet of grass is so dense that waterfowl can walk there. It is better not to venture there by paddle or inflatable boat.
What to panic
These algae represent a danger through the practice of windsurfing and stand-up paddle. “If someone fell in there from a paddle, a surfboard or even a boat, there would be enough to panic,” said Michael Salchli at “JdJ”.
Employees of the company “Bienne Nautic Wasserbau”, Michael Salchli and Louis Werder recovered algae with their algae collector boat. At the port of Täuffelen alone, 20 tonnes were removed from the lake. For Michael Salchli, this is only 5% of the total mass: according to his estimate, there are 380 tons of unwanted algae left in the lake.
Port and bay
The mayor of Täuffelen-Gerolfingen got involved, because “as soon as the grass touches the ground, it is our duty to remove it,” Adrian Hutzli told the “Jura Journal”. In the neighboring village of Mörigen, Mayor Francine Schmid cleared the harbor for boat owners and the bay for bathers.
Will the problem move from one municipality to another? Adrian Hutzli and Francine Schmid consider that the resolution of the problem lies with the canton, which collects concessions and taxes from the navigators.
Natural phenomenon
Their argument is refuted by the cantonal authorities: the deputy director of the canton’s water and sanitation office notes that the accumulation of algae is a natural phenomenon that does not constitute a serious danger for people and animals. .
Algae are not toxic. Are they edible? “The cows don’t eat that, the smell of fish is too strong”, remarks Michael Salchli. Humidity requires, fermentation is very fast. As a result, the seaweed is composted.
