COLFAX COUNTY, Neb. (KOLN) – The state of Nebraska issued a health alert Thursday about a harmful algae bloom, also known as toxic blue-green algae, at Maple Creek Recreation Area Lake in Colfax County.
Calamus Reservoir in Garfield County was on alert last week but has been removed from the health alert.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services, samples taken earlier this week from the alert lakes showed total levels of microcystin, a toxin released by certain strains of blue-green algae, exceeding the standard limit of 8 parts per billion.
When a health alert is issued, public caution signs are posted and designated swimming beaches are closed for the duration of the alert. Recreational boating and fishing are permitted, but the public is advised to exercise caution and avoid contact with the water, especially activities that may involve ingesting water.
NDHHS asks residents not to let pets enter or drink from the lake's water, but public areas can be used for camping, picnicking and other outdoor activities.
Weekly sampling has been taking place at 56 public lakes since the first week of May. Lakes will continue to be monitored weekly through the end of September. Click here to view weekly data for sampled lakes.
State monitoring is conducted earlier in the week at public lakes that have swimming areas and high levels of public activity, and HAB and bacterial sampling results are updated every Friday and posted on the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy website.
HABs can develop between the time a sample is taken and the time the sample is reported, so people should be cautious if they see signs of an algal bloom, NDHHS said. HABs may also be present in other Nebraska lakes that have not been sampled. For more information, including what to watch out for, health effects of HABs and steps to avoid exposure, see the HAB fact sheet on the NDEE website.
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