By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Great Bend Public Lands Director Scott Keeler said it is that time of the year where the city starts to see migratory geese stop at Veterans Lake. Because of the water levels at Cheyenne Bottoms, Great Bend is seeing the influx of geese stop in town.
Years ago, city officials struggled with blue-green algae at Veterans Lake, partially from the phosphorus that geese would leave behind in their feces. Keeler said city crews are starting their annual campaign this week of trying to scare the geese away.
"We have noisemakers," said Keeler. "A pistol bird bomb shoots a firecracker and screamer that makes a whistling sound. We usually have to do that two or three times a day. It only takes a couple of times on the migratory birds, but this time of the year you have flocks coming in weekly and sometimes a daily basis."
Hiring an engineer to treat the lake with a chemical years ago, the lake has remained off the algae warning list since late 2015.