The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has included four additional lakes in its weekly blue-green algae advisory.
The advisory, updated every Friday, has three levels: hazard, warning, and watch.
This year, no Kansas lakes have reached the hazard level. Currently, three lakes are under the warning advisory, and seven are in the watch advisory. The four newly added lakes are in the watch category.
Meanwhile, three lakes — Lovewell Lake in Jewell County, Webster Lake in Rooks County, and Woodland Park Pond (Mount Hope) in Sedgwick County — have been removed from the advisory.
Source: ksn.com
Here are the Kansas lakes on the warning status:
- Gathering Pond, Geary County
- Harvey County East Lake, Harvey County
- King Lake, Lyon County
Here are the Kansas lakes on the watch status:
- Atchison City Lake #9, Atchison County (Added July 12)
- Cedar Bluff, Trego County (Added July 12)
- Eagle Lake (Bel Aire), Sedgwick County
- Lake Afton, Sedgwick County (Added July 12)
- Marion Lake (Reservoir), Marion County
- Melvern Outlet River Pond, Osage County (Added July 12)
- Rooks Co. SFL, Rooks County
A hazard status indicates that a harmful algal bloom is present and extreme conditions exist.
When a hazard is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:
- Signage should be posted at all public access locations.
- It is recommended that either a portion of the lake or the entire lake or zone be closed to the public.
- In some cases, the adjacent land should be closed as well. Actual setback distances will be determined on a site-specific basis, if necessary.
- When partial closures (i.e., beach or cove) are issued, the remaining lake or zone area will carry a warning status.
A warning status indicates that conditions are unsafe for human and pet exposure. Contact with the waterbody should be avoided.
When a warning is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:
- Signage should be posted at all public access locations.
- Inhalation of spray or aerosols may be harmful.
- Lake water is not safe to drink for pets or livestock.
- Lake water, regardless of blue-green algae status, should never be consumed by humans.
- Water contact should be avoided.
- Fish may be eaten if they are rinsed with clean water and only the fillet portion is consumed, while all other parts are discarded.
- Do not allow pets to eat dried algae.
- If lake water contacts the skin, wash it with clean water as soon as possible.
- Avoid areas of visible algae accumulation.
A watch status means that blue-green algae have been detected and a harmful algal bloom is present or likely to develop. People are encouraged to avoid areas of algae accumulation and keep pets and livestock away from the water.
During the watch status, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:
- Signage should be posted at all public access locations.
- Water may be unsafe for humans/animals.
- Avoid areas of algae accumulation, and do not let people/pets eat dried algae or drink contaminated water.
- Swimming, wading, skiing and jet skiing are discouraged near visible blooms.
- Boating and fishing are safe. However, inhalation of the spray may affect some individuals. Avoid direct contact with water, and wash with clean water after any contact.
- Clean fish thoroughly with potable water and eat fillet portions only.
