KELEA Assisted Nature’s Allostasis
Recently conducted studies indicate that a far more effective approach
to removing at least certain forms of pollution from water is to enhance
Nature’s allostasis capacity. This is achieved by increasing the water
levels of the environmental force termed KELEA, an acronym for Kinetic
Energy Limiting Electrostatic Attraction [10]. Volcanic rock
materials that are pulverized and heated to their partial melting
temperature before being cooled and pelleted comprise a simple,
inexpensive means of adding KELEA to water. The pellets are marketed as
Kiko Technologies (Figure 1). Relatively few Kiko pellets were used in
conjunction with biochar to treat several heavily blue-green
algae-contaminated tidal basins, referred to as sloughs, of Spirit Lake,
Iowa. The first treated region was a small tributary connecting the
Sandbar Slough to Spirit Lake. The toxic algae in the tributary
disappeared within several days. Moreover, there was a noticeable
progressive reduction in the levels of algae contamination throughout
the entire slough. The treated site was revisited 6-weeks later. To the
astonishment of the person visiting the treated site, a beaver had
constructed a dam across the tributary [11]. The individual could
not recall seeing any beaver activity adjacent to Spirit Lake over the
previous five decades. Encouraged by this finding, several other
toxic-algae-contaminated sloughs of Spirit Lake were treated. Based on
prior experience, approximately 500 ml of a mineral and amino acid-rich
solution were included with the pellets and biochar. The combination
again led to the prompt reduction of the toxic algae both at and beyond
the treated areas in the sloughs [12-14].
Without requiring further interventions, the treated sloughs have shown
a remarkable progressing return of aquatic, land, and flying wildlife.
Sightings have included muskrats, bullfrogs, crayfish, moose, mink,
foxes, eagles, and swans. Fishermen are catching certain species of fish
that were rarely being caught in prior years. These include yellow
perch. The conclusion from fishermen, residents, members of the Spirit
Lake Association, and others is that Spirit Lake and accompanying
aquatic, land-based, and flying wildlife is of an especially high
quality this year. Thus, quality improvements have seemingly extended
into the entire Spirit Lake.
Along with regions of the Great Lakes, Spirit Lake has seen periodic
massive increases in the number of zebra and quagga mussels. [15]
These are considered invasive species that originally came from Ukraine
and other parts of Europe, likely being carried in the ballast water of
international shipping. They are detrimental to many other aquatic life
forms due to nutrient depletion yet can also promote the growth of toxic
cyanobacteria (blue-green algae).
Various means have been tried to eliminate zebra and quagga mussels from
the many affected lakes, including the use of copper-containing
compounds. These have not been particularly effective nor highly
specific in the killing of the invasive mussels. Major efforts are also
underway to reduce the transferring of mussels between lakes due to
their attachments to the hulls of recreational boating.
A partial die-off of invasive mussels typically occurs in early summer
and is generally attributed to a rising water temperature [15].
Arguably, directly related to the apparent restoration of normal
wildlife in Spirit Lake, the invasive mussels may be diminishing in
numbers due to increases in natural predators, such as crayfish and
yellow perch. Spirit Lake is experiencing an earlier die-off of the
mussels beginning in mid-December of 2023. A notable feature in the
die-off is the more rapid disintegration of the shells, such that they
more rapidly convert to granular materials rather than remaining intact
shells.
Similar improvements in water quality have occurred in other recently
treated locations within the United States. These include a blue-green
algae-contaminated lagoon and a similarly contaminated golf course
waterhole in Alameda County, California [12].
These observations can be summarized as follows. Small numbers
(~10) of Kiko pellets administered in conjunction with
approximately a pound of biochar (42-biochar), and 500 ml of a nutrient
solution can trigger a progressive and seemingly stepwise,
time-dependent process leading to the reduction in water pollution,
restoration of normal wildlife, and die-off of invasive species. Once
triggered, the continuing presence of the Kiko pellets and biochar is no
longer necessary. Nor are the benefits restricted to the treated areas
of water but extend into water contiguous with that of the treated
areas. Major benefits have been seen at various locations in the US and
elsewhere. This summation raises various questions that when answered
should lead to further optimization of the anti-pollution measures.