AUBURN, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- The Superintendent of the Auburn Water and Sewerage Districts is requesting funding from the district's Board of Trustees to continue water quality monitoring at Lake Auburn.

An unusual algae bloom growing in the lake has been decreasing oxygen levels in the water, suffocating and killing fish.

According to Superintendent John Storer, public drinking water has not been affected, but it could be in the future.

"Long term, if we don't get this under control, we could see a continual decay in the lake water quality coming in," said Storer.

Storer is requesting additional funding from the Board of Trustees in a special meeting Thursday night.

He said the district needs to implement more monitoring and testing on the lake and its tributaries to understand the changing water quality.

He said he would also like to pay for a short-term public relations campaign to help inform the public about the latest lake developments.

The Board of Trustess is reviewing proposals for both 2012 and 2013 in Thursday's special session.

Storer said he is requesting at least $75,000.

NEWS CENTER