Micro Monday - Meet Synedra!

This long, slender microorganism is a Diatom called Synedra. Diatoms are tiny algae with glass-like cell walls made of silica—and they play a huge role in our lakes!

Synedra thrives in cool, clear water and are often more abundant in the winter and spring. When you see them under a microscope, their needle-like shape often appears floating in starbursts or chains.

But when conditions are right, Synedra can bloom. During large blooms, they can cause taste and odor problems in drinking water, often described as musty, earthy, or grassy. While these blooms aren’t typically harmful to human health, they can impact water quality and treatment processes.

Tiny but mighty, Synedra reminds us how closely lake health and our daily lives are connected.