Drought conditions this summer have led to an increase in cyanobacterial blooms across the state.
"In 2026 alone, the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality sampled 40 lakes to assess the occurrence of toxic cyanobacteria," says Tate Libunao, environmental scientist at the NDDEQ.
While the NDDEQ’s monitoring is limited to lakes and reservoirs, there have been numerous blooms on ponds used for livestock water.
As a result, the NDDEQ and North Dakota State University Extension have received several inquiries about options for treating cyanobacteria to ensure water sources are safe for both livestock and recreational purposes.
“Unfortunately, options for treating cyanobacteria blooms are limited for North Dakota,” says Miranda Meehan, NDSU Extension livestock environmental stewardship specialist.
Most products used to treat cyanobacteria contain copper sulfate, and their effectiveness is limited in the state, according to Meehan.
“Research evaluating the use of copper sulfate in North Dakota found that the natural water chemistry quickly made the active ingredient, copper, unavailable to the biological community,” says Laxmi Prasad, NDSU Extension water engineer.
This reduces the effectiveness of copper sulfate in controlling algae blooms.
Additionally, copper sulfate poses a risk to both aquatic animals and livestock. Specifically, both copper and sulfate are deadly to aquatic animals, so their use is regulated by the NDDEQ.
Source : ndsu.edu