Source: CBC News

Biologist Michael Twiss of Clarkson University explained the process that occurred, known by scientists as a "whiting effect". A spike in recent temperatures caused mass photosynthesis by microorganisms in the lake, which in turn led to a rise in the water's pH. With the high pH in the lake, chemical reactions took place where the naturally occurring calcium and carbonate ions created white specks of calcite - responsible for the lake's exotic colour.

Twiss stated that in recent years, this phenomenon had become increasingly rare, although before the arrival of invasive zebra mussels in the 1990's, it was a common occurrence. Picocyanobacteria, the species of microorganism dominant in this whiting effect, creates non-harmful algal blooms that should not be confused with dangerous blue-green algal blooms, as was initially feared by scientists witnessing this phenomenon.