2012 Blue-Green Algae Warnings and Advisories

[Craig Johnson]

KDHE ISSUES BLUE-GREEN ALGAE WARNINGS AND ADVISORIES

May 18, 2012

Blue-green algae blooms affecting five public lakes

TOPEKA — The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a Public Health Advisory for one public lake and a Public Health Warning for four public lakes due to blue-green algae populations above minimum public safety levels. KDHE samples recreational bodies of water for blue-green algae when the agency is alerted to a potential algae bloom. When harmful algal blooms are present, KDHE, in cooperation with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) and other lake managers where appropriate, responds by informing the public of these conditions.

Public Health Warning
A Public Health Warning indicates that water conditions are unsafe and direct water contact (i.e., wading, skiing and swimming) is prohibited. Kansas public waters currently under “Warning” status:

Memorial/Veterans Lake – Great Bend, Barton County
Marion Reservoir – Marion, Marion County
Marion County Lake – Marion, Marion County
Winfield City Lake – Winfield, Cowley County

When a Warning is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:

• Don’t let people, pets and livestock drink untreated lake water
• Don’t swim, wade or engage in other activities with full body contact of lake water, including skiing or jet-skiing
• Clean fish and rinse with clean water, consume only the fillet portion, and discard all other parts
• Do not allow pets or livestock to eat dried algae
• If lake water contacts skin or pet fur, wash with clean potable water as soon as possible
• Avoid areas of visible algae accumulation

Public Health Advisory
A Public Health Advisory indicates that a hazardous condition exists. Water activities such as boating and fishing may be safe; however, direct contact with water (i.e., wading, swimming) is strongly discouraged for people, pets and livestock. Kansas public waters currently under “Advisory” status:

Old Herington City Lake – Herington, Dickinson County

When an Advisory is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:

• Don’t let people, pets and livestock drink untreated lake water
• Clean fish and rinse with clean water, consume only the filet portion, and discard other parts
• Do not eat or allow pets to eat dried algae
• If lake water comes in contact with skin or pet fur, wash with clean potable water as soon as possible
• Avoid areas of visible algae accumulation

Health effects from exposure to blue-green algae can vary. The most common complaints after recreational exposure include vomiting, diarrhea, skin rashes, eye irritation and respiratory symptoms. Blue-green algae toxins can also cause deaths in pets.
KDHE will continue to monitor these public waters and will update statements as conditions warrant. More information on algae and algae blooms, including up-to-date Advisories and Warnings, can be found at online at kdheks.gov/algae-illness.

[Blackdog40]

Just not right this early.

[Craig Johnson]

May 25, 2012

One lake added to Advisory list; three others show improvement

TOPEKA — Because blue-green algae populations are above minimum public safety levels, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHW) has issued a new Public Health Advisory for one public lake and has downgraded three others from a Warning to the less-severe Advisory level. KDHE samples recreational bodies of water for blue-green algae when the agency is alerted to a potential algae bloom. When harmful algal blooms are present, KDHE, in cooperation with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) and other lake managers where appropriate, responds by informing the public of these conditions.

Public Health Warning

A Public Health Warning indicates that water conditions are unsafe and direct water contact (i.e., wading, skiing and swimming) is prohibited. Kansas public waters currently under “Warning” status:

Memorial/Veterans Lake – Great Bend, Barton County

When a Warning is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:

• Don’t let people, pets and livestock drink untreated lake water
• Don’t swim, wade or engage in other activities with full body contact of lake water, including skiing or jet-skiing
• Clean fish and rinse with clean water, consume only the fillet portion, and discard all other parts
• Do not allow pets or livestock to eat dried algae
• If lake water contacts skin or pet fur, wash with clean potable water as soon as possible
• Avoid areas of visible algae accumulation

Public Health Advisory

A Public Health Advisory indicates that a hazardous condition exists. Water activities like boating and fishing may be safe; however, direct contact with water (i.e., wading, swimming) is strongly discouraged for people, pets and livestock. Kansas public waters currently under “Advisory” status:

Logan City Lake, Logan, Phillips County (new addition)
Marion Reservoir – Marion, Marion County (downgraded from Warning)
Marion County Lake – Marion, Marion County (downgraded from Warning)
Winfield City Lake – Winfield, Cowley County (downgraded from Warning)
Old Herington City Lake – Herington, Dickinson County

When an Advisory is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:

• Don’t let people, pets and livestock drink untreated lake water
• Clean fish and rinse with clean water, consume only the fillet portion, and discard all other parts
• Do not eat or allow pets to eat dried algae
• If lake water comes in contact with skin or pet fur, wash with clean potable water as soon as possible
• Avoid areas of visible algae accumulation

Health effects from exposure to blue-green algae can vary. The most common complaints after recreational exposure include vomiting, diarrhea, skin rashes, eye irritation and respiratory symptoms. Blue-green algae toxins can also cause deaths in pets.

NOTE: It is safe to eat fish caught during a harmful blue-green algae outbreak, as long as consumers clean and rinse the fish with clean, potable water; eat only the fillet portion; and discard all other parts. People should also wash their hands with clean, potable water after handling fish taken from an affected lake.

KDHE will continue to monitor these public waters and will update statements as conditions warrant. More information on algae and algae blooms, including up-to-date Advisories and Warnings, can be found at online at kdheks.gov/algae-illness.

[quivira kid]

I was at Marion County Lake last night, and it didn't look too bad. Need some rain to fill 'er up though!

[Craig Johnson]

Milford and Lovewell reservoirs added to ADVISORY list. More info here Kansas Department of Health and Environment: Harmful Algal Bloom Advisories/Warnings

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PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY LEVELS: KDHE may issue two levels of public health protection notifications: a Public Health Advisory or Public Health Warning. These notification levels are determined by the concentration of a harmful toxin(s) or the concentration of cyanobacteria cell counts.


Public Health Advisory-

• Notifies public that a hazardous condition exists
• Signs should be posted at all public access locations
• Water may be unsafe for humans/animals
• Discourage contact

Public Health Warning-

• Notifies public that conditions are unsafe
• Water contact should not occur
• All conditions of Advisory remain in effect

Last updated on: 06/07/2012 14:38:24

• Memorial/Veterans Lake, Great Bend, Barton County

• Logan City Lake, Phillips County
• Lovewell Lake, Jewell County
• Marion County Lake, Marion County
• Marion Reservoir, Marion County
• Milford Lake, Geary and Riley counties
• Old Herington City Lake, Herington, Dickinson County
• South Lake, Johnson County
• Winfield City Lake, Cowley County

[Craig Johnson]

Last updated on: 06/14/2012 14:34:17

Memorial/Veterans Lake, Great Bend, Barton County Old Herington City Lake, Herington, Dickinson County

Cedar Bluff Reservoir, Trego County Logan City Lake, Phillips County Lovewell Lake, Jewell County Marion Reservoir, Marion County Milford Lake, Geary and Riley counties South Lake, Johnson County Winfield City Lake, Cowley County

For more info go to Kansas Department of Health and Environment: Harmful Algal Bloom Advisories/Warnings

[Craig Johnson]

Last updated on: 06/29/2012 06:45:36 See Kansas Department of Health and Environment: Harmful Algal Bloom Advisories/Warnings for more info.

Logan City Lake, Phillips County Marion Reservoir, Marion County Memorial/Veterans Lake, Great Bend, Barton County Old Herington City Lake, Herington, Dickinson County

Lovewell Lake, Jewell County South Lake, Johnson County

[Craig Johnson]

See Kansas Department of Health and Environment: Harmful Algal Bloom Advisories/Warnings for the most recent algae updates.

[Craig Johnson]

Last updated on: 07/26/2012 14:45:40

Chisholm Creek Park Lake North, Sedgwick County Harvey County East Lake, Harvey County Logan City Lake, Phillips County Memorial/Veterans Lake, Great Bend, Barton County South Lake Park, Johnson County

Atchison County Park Lake, Atchison County Brown County State Fishing Lake, Brown County Centralia Lake, Nemaha County Deanna Rose Farmstead, Johnson County Lake Scott State Park, Scott County Marion Reservoir, Marion County Milford Reservoir- north of School Creek is under an advisory, south of School Creek is not under an advisory.

[Craig Johnson]

Last updated on: 08/09/2012 14:15:36
KDHE Issues Pooled Stream Notice

Antioch Park Lake (South), Johnson Central Park Lake, Shawnee County Harvey County East Lake, Harvey County Harvey County West Park Lake, Harvey County Logan City Lake, Phillips County McPherson County SFL, McPherson County Memorial/Veterans Lake, Great Bend, Barton County South Lake Park, Johnson County

Atchison County Park Lake, Atchison County Brown County State Fishing Lake, Brown County Centralia Lake, Nemaha County Chisholm Creek Park Lake North, Sedgwick County Deanna Rose Farmstead, Johnson County Riggs Park Lake, Sedgwick County