Thread: Blue green algae

I've fished it a couple times when the warnings were on. Seems like I can remember it being closed completely due to algae but can't swear to it?

You can usually do whatever on the other side of the lake. The wind will usually dictate where the algae will end up. The summer heat and stagnant water level adds to the blooming effect. If we get good rains off and on then the algae shouldn't be a problem.

Skunked Again, this came out last year (like previous years). I fished Milford all summer, although I adheared to the below. All ramps I used remained open for boats....jet skis, etc. were warned not to enter though. The department took weekly samples from all over the lake. Weekly updates would come out: (BG Algae warning in effect north of Farnum Creek, Advisory South of Farnum Creek etc.). So, yes, you can generally move around the lake to find less affected areas. Big meeting in a couple of weeks with all the players to figure out how to combat the algae. Brad- Junction City, KS.

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

• Humans, pets and livestock do not drink lake water
• Water contact should be prohibited. Avoid swimming, wading or other activities with full body contact of lake water
• Clean fish and rinse with clean water, consume only the fillet portion, and discard all other parts
• Do not allow pets 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: Harmful blue-green algae have been detected. 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.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) samples publicly accessible bodies of water for cyanobacteria, commonly called blue-green algae, when the agency is alerted to a potential algae bloom in Kansas lakes.

KDWPT reminds visitors that a lake under an Advisory or Warning is not closed unless officials deem it absolutely necessary. Marinas, lakeside businesses and park camping facilities remain open for business, although swim beaches may be closed. Park drinking water and showers are safe and not affected by the algae bloom. It is generally safe to boat and fish as long as long as contact with the water is avoided. Also, 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 water; consume only the fillet portion; and discard all other parts. People should also wash their hands with clean water after handling fish taken from an affected lake.

Kansans should be aware that blooms are unpredictable. They can develop rapidly and may float around the lake, requiring visitors to exercise their best judgment. If there is scum, a paint-like surface, or the water is bright green, avoid contact and keep pets away. These are indications that a harmful bloom may be present. KDHE and KDWPT urge dog owners to be particularly mindful of the presence of blue-green algae. Dogs that swim in or drink water affected by a harmful algal bloom or eat dried algae along the shore may become seriously ill or die.

Originally Posted by skunked again

Has the lake actually been completely closed, due to blue green algae?

Yes, several years ago the lake was closed for about a week. All ramps were closed and no access was allowed. That has not happened the last couple of years though.

Originally Posted by skunked again

Do only the state parks, ramps, beaches close?

A warning or advisory is issued for a particular area of the lake and all facilities whether government or "private" are included.

Originally Posted by skunked again

Are the private ramps, resorts beaches allowed to remain open?

See above.

Originally Posted by skunked again

If their is blue green on one side of the lake, can I move to the other side?

Usually, yes. Different areas of the lake can have a different status.

Thank you very much for the replies.

Short Term Good News, but Long Term Problem Still Exists | JC Post The Kansas Department of Health and Environment will implement a newprogram for assessing the impact of blue green algae at Milford Lake.

In the short term it means more relaxed restrictions on blue green algae cellcounts before usage of the lake for direct water recreation such as swimmingand jet skiing are restricted, but a solution to the overall problem is stillelusive. That problem has resulted in numerous closures, warnings, andadvisories at the lake in recent years…particularly 2011 and 2014. That led toa reduction in recreation usage and a negative impact in the lake area.
Now KDHE will implement a three phase program where watches, warnings, andfinally recommended beach or lake closures could be implemented. The cell countwill increase from 20,000 under and advisory in the past to 80,000 for a watchin the future. Tom Stiles with KDHE said it raises the level before any sense ofalarm is triggered relative to the blue green algae. “We had always gone withwhat the world ( WHO ) guidelines were, but we found that in Kansas thosenumbers don’t play exactly the way they do from the world’s perspective, and sowe had the latitude to raise those cell count numbers without compromisingpublic health whatsoever. ”

A warning will now go from 100,000 up to a 250,000 cell count, and there willbe a third more severe level…recommended beach or lake closure. MilfordReservoir will also be divided into three zones, meaning a portion of the lakecould be under a watch or warning but not the remainder of the reservoir.

Signage will be posted and you will be able to check the KDHE website forinformation on watches, but there will not be any news releases to the media atthat stage. The media will be notified when the cell counts reach warninglevels.

The flow of phosphorus and nitrogen into the lake from the Republican Riverbasin is a cause of blue green algae. There is also a belief at the state levelthat high water levels in the lake can be a problem in fostering algae blooms,however the main purpose for the reservoir operated by the Corps of Engineersis flood control, not recreation. Stiles said, “With Milford it just seemsunique in holding onto that high water into the summer time may be a recipe forstarting to let those blooms proliferate. “In addition the presence of zebramussels in Milford Lake has led to clear water apparently allowing theincreased development of blue green algae because sunlight can penetrate deeperinto the water.
The long term challenge is to fix the root cause, something which will bechallenging to control due to the inflow of phosphorus and nitrogen from theheavy agricultural Republican River watershed area into the lake. Plans fordealing with it listed by KDHE include possibly reducing non-point sources.

–Reduce sediment load with voluntary incentive programs
–Crop and livestock best management practices to reduce nutrient loading.
And effort to educe point source loads where phosphorus is put out. That couldinclude reducing opportunities or nutrients from mechanized wastewater plantsin some communities upstream on the Republican River through upgrades intreatment, and from lagoons in smaller towns.

A packed meeting room at the Milford City Building listened to the informationprovided by KDHE and the Corps of Engineers Thursday. Brad Roether, MilfordMayor, understood the short term improvements, but looked at the biggerpicture. “Basically you heard in there, if we get high water w’re really goingto be in a bad situation. And then learning that they wouldn’t let that waterdownstream if we have the blue green algae, that’s going to be a worse problemfor us.”

I love the facts that the WHO standards don't quite apply to Kansas.......those seem like really big steps 20,000 to 80,000 and 100,000 to 250,000.

Wow, thank you very much.