ONE LAKE REMOVED FROM BLUE-GREEN ALGAE ADVISORY

Image via Wikipedia

Rigg’s Park Lake in Haysville lifted
TOPEKA — Recent testing of Kansas lakes by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has revealed three changes in blue-green algae levels in the state’s lakes. Samples collected at Rigg’s Park Lake in Haysville were negative, so all warnings and advisories for that lake have been lifted. High levels of algae and toxins were detected in Warnock Lake, in Atchison County, so that lake’s status has been upgraded from “Advisory” to “Warning.” Algae levels at Harvey County East Lake, near Newton, have improved somewhat, so that lake has been downgraded to Advisory status.

Based upon the latest sampling results and established health risk levels, KDHE issues Warnings and Advisories. A “Warning” is issued when high levels of toxic blue-green algae have been detected. A “Public Health Warning” indicates that water conditions are unsafe, and direct water contact (wading, skiing, and swimming) should not occur.

Blue-green algae do not affect the drinking water in state parks, and all campgrounds, marinas, and other lakeside businesses remain open for business.

KDHE samples recreational bodies of water for blue-green algae when the agency is alerted to a potential algae bloom. When harmful algae blooms are present, KDHE, in cooperation with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, responds by informing the public of these conditions.

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. These toxins also cause deaths in pets.

Current concentrations of algae in the following waters exceeded the KDHE recommended level of less than 100,000 cells/ml for recreational water use and are currently under Warning:

• Warnock Lake, Atchison County (upgraded from an Advisory)
• Milford Reservoir — Clay, Geary and Dickinson counties;
• Logan City Lake — Phillips County;
• Augusta City Lake — Augusta, Butler County;
• Augusta Santa Fe Lake — Augusta, Butler County;
• Harvey County West Lake — Harvey County; and
• Memorial/Veterans Park Lake — Great Bend, Barton County

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

• do not drink lake water;
• do not swim, wade, or do anything with full-body contact with lake water;
• clean fish well, consume only the fillet portion, and discard all other parts; and
• keep pets from having contact with or drinking lake water.

An “Advisory” is issued when harmful blue-green algae have been detected. A “Public Health Advisory” indicates that a hazardous condition exists, but water activities such as boating and fishing may be safe. However, direct contact with water (wading, swimming) is strongly discouraged for people and pets.

KDHE has issued an Advisory for the following Kansas public waters:

• Harvey County East Lake, Harvey County (downgraded from Warning);
• Dillon Park Lake — Hutchinson, Reno County; and
• Harvey County Camp Hawk Lake.

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

• do not drink lake water;
• avoid swimming, wading, or other activities with full body contact with lake water;
• clean fish well, consume only the fillet portion, and discard all other parts; and
• keep pets from having contact with or drinking lake water.

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 www.kdheks.gov/algae-illness/index.htm.

FISHING GEAR

KDHE BLUE-GREEN ALGAE ALERTS UPDATED

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Logan City Lake upgraded to “Warning” level; Milford State Park cancels boat race
TOPEKA — In recent testing of Kansas lakes by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), blue-green algae levels in several lakes remain high. Logan City Lake, previously listed in the lower category of “Advisory,” has been upgraded to a “Warning” status.

In addition, Milford Reservoir remains under an Advisory, and Milford State Park has cancelled the “Float Your Boat” cardboard boat race scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 20. The park will have Free Park Entrance Days Aug. 20-21. Blue-green algae do not affect the drinking water in state parks, and all campgrounds, marinas, and other lakeside businesses remain open for business.

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, responds by informing the public of these conditions.

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. These toxins also cause deaths in pets.

Based upon the latest sampling results and established health risk levels, KDHE issues Warnings and Advisories. A “Warning” is issued when high levels of toxic blue-green algae have been detected. A “Public Health Warning” indicates that water conditions are unsafe, and direct water contact (wading, skiing, and swimming) should not occur.

Current concentrations of algae in the following waters exceeded the KDHE recommended level of less than 100,000 cells/ml for recreational water use and are currently under Warning:

• Santa Fe Lake — Augusta, Butler County;
• Memorial Park Lake — Great Bend, Barton County;
• Rigg’s Park Lake — Haysville, Sedgwick County;
• Warnock Lake — Atchison County;
• Harvey County East Lake — Harvey County; and
• Augusta City Lake — Augusta, Butler County; and
• Logan City Lake — Phillips County (new listing).

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

• do not drink lake water;
• do not swim, wade, or do anything with full-body contact with lake water;
• clean fish well, consume only the fillet portion, and discard all other parts; and
• keep pets from having contact with or drinking lake water.

An “Advisory” is issued when harmful blue-green algae have been detected. A “Public Health Advisory” indicates that a hazardous condition exists, but water activities such as boating and fishing may be safe. However, direct contact with water (wading, swimming) is strongly discouraged for people and pets.

KDHE has issued an Advisory for the following Kansas public waters:

• Big Hill Reservoir — Labette County;
• Marion County Lake — Marion County;
• Hillsdale Reservoir — Miami County;
• Milford Reservoir — Clay, Geary, and Dickinson counties; and
• Cheney Reservoir — Reno, Kingman, and Sedgwick counties.

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

• do not drink lake water;
• avoid swimming, wading, or other activities with full body contact with lake water;
• clean fish well, consume only the fillet portion, and discard all other parts; and
• keep pets from having contact with or drinking lake water.

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 www.kdheks.gov/algae-illness/index.htm.

ALGAE BLOOMS AGITATE FARM PONDS, FARMERS

Image via Wikipedia Fish-killing algae blooms, oxygen depletion can harm farm ponds as well as lakes
PRATT — Summer blue-green algae blooms at a number of Kansas reservoirs are not isolated to large bodies of water. Record hot temperatures this summer have created the algae blooms in farm ponds, as well, and nothing can be more disheartening than to carefully nurture a pond only to discover a fish kill on a hot summer morning. While blue-green algae blooms can be toxic to fish, fish kills can also result from oxygen depletion created by a number of factors not necessarily associated with blue-green algae blooms.
To support fish and other higher organisms, a pond or lake must have one element — dissolved oxygen. Oxygen depletion is the most common cause of fish kills, and low oxygen occurs most often during periods of calm, cloudy, hot weather. Although Kansas has not experienced many cloudy days this summer, 100-degree days have been strung together like glue, and green algae has tinted most ponds this summer.
Most dissolved oxygen in water comes from the atmosphere on windy days and as a byproduct of photosynthesis in aquatic plants such as filamentous algae (commonly called "moss"), green algae, and coontail. If less sunlight penetrates deeper water — because of clouds or murky water — vegetation and oxygen content at deeper levels are reduced. Dissolved oxygen levels can also be affected by temperature. Colder water holds oxygen better, and very warm water easily loses oxygen. Atmospheric pressure is also a factor. Oxygen solubility increases as atmospheric pressure rises.
Most fish kills occur in the early morning before the sun comes up, when dissolved oxygen levels are lowest, and, unfortunately, larger fish are usually the first to be affected. Ponds or lakes with large amounts of algae or phytoplankton can have high oxygen during the day, but at night, bacteria that feed on these dying plants use up oxygen.
Herbicides or algaecides can help control aquatic vegetation and reduce the chances of a fish kill. However, this must be done carefully to prevent rapid decomposition and further oxygen depletion. Other ways to prevent oxygen depletion include pumping or flowing water into a pond (especially in the early morning hours before sunrise); diluting runoff that adds nutrients to a pond; using a commercial aerator; reducing feed if artificial feeding is used; and maintaining proper fish density for the size of the pond.
Blue-green algae blooms such as those that have affected larger lakes in the state also can cause fish kills in ponds and small lakes. Blue-green algae blooms often resemble green or turquoise paint floating on the water. These blooms result when long-term build up of nutrients in the water (nitrogen and phosphorus) combine with hot weather and other environmental conditions to stimulate algae growth. In time, these algae blooms naturally die off.
For more information on pond management, contact the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism at 620-672-5911 or visit the department website, www.kdwpt.state.ks.us. Type "Pond Management" in the search box and then click on "Producing Fish and Wildlife in Kansas Ponds."

BLUE-GREEN ALGAE INFORMATION

Image via Wikipedia Blue-green algae look like simple aquatic plants but they’re really a type of bacteria called Cyanobacteria. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) samples recreational bodies of water for blue-green algae when they are alerted to a potential algae bloom. Contact with high concentrations of the cyanobacteria can cause illness. KDHE issues a Public Health Advisory or Public Health Warning based on either the presence of a certain toxin or on the number of cyanobacteria cells in the water.
The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT); the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation cooperate with KDHE when an Advisory or Warning is issued to alert the public about potentially harmful algae blooms.

Important Information

• Current Advisories and Warnings
• Harmful Algal Bloom Info from KDHE
• Blue-Green Algae Information Handout

KDHE Blue-Green Algae News Releases

• July 15, 2011
• June 30, 2011
• June 23, 2011
• June 16, 2011
• May 27, 2011
• May 25, 2011

PUBLIC HEALTH ADVISORY ISSUED FOR MEADE STATE FISHING LAKE

Image via Wikipedia

Blue-green algae bloom still toxic
MEADE — On June 22, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) Secretary Robin Jennison issued Emergency Secretary Order closing some recreational access to the waters and beach areas of Meade State Park, in Meade County. A few days earlier, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) had found a blue-green algae bloom in Meade State Fishing Lake at the park. Direct water contact activities such as swimming and wading are prohibited until further notice.

In the meantime, authorities will continue to monitor lake conditions. KDHE recommends the following precautions at Meade State Fishing Lake:

• do not drink lake water;
• avoid swimming, wading, or other activities with full body contact of lake water;
• clean fish well, consume only the fillet portion, and discard all other body parts;
• keep pets from having contact with or drinking the water.

Contact with the water, such as wading or swimming, can cause a skin rash, as well as eye, ear and throat irritation. Ingestion or inhaling aerosols (such as from personal watercraft or boating) of contaminated water can cause diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, fever, fatigue and flu-like symptoms. If you develop similar symptoms after contact with the lake water, seek medical care from your healthcare provider.

Animals, especially dogs, can also become ill as a result of coming into contact with, or ingesting the water. If your pet becomes ill soon after contact with the water, contact your veterinarian right away.

KDHE and KDWP will continue to monitor the situation and rescind this advisory as soon as conditions warrant. If the public has any questions or concerns, KDHE can be contacted during normal business hours at 785-296-6603.

Further information on algae and algae blooms can be found online at www.kdheks.gov/algae-illness/index.htm

KDHE ISSUES ALGAE BLOOM WATCH

Blue-green algae blooms of particular concern as weather warms

TOPEKA — As summer heat warms ponds, lakes, and reservoirs, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is reminding water recreationists to be on the lookout for algae blooms. At this time of year, more Kansans spend time in the water, and the agency is asking for help and heightened awareness from those who enjoy water sports.

Algae are microscopic organisms that grow naturally in the ocean and freshwater, but under certain conditions and warmer weather, they can grow rapidly. When this happens, blue-green algae can produce toxins capable of causing illness in people and animals.

“Last year, our recorded number of cases was higher than previous years,” explains Dr. Robert Moser, KDHE secretary. “I strongly urge everyone to check KDHE’s algae website for advisories before visiting reservoirs and other public water bodies this summer. We appreciate public cooperation and assistance in making the summer season fun and safe for all Kansans.”

Moser also noted that a large percentage of the public will report "allergic" type reactions after exposure, such as intestinal problems, respiratory problems, or skin irritations.

For the latest algae advisories and warnings around Kansas, as well as detailed information on blue-green algae, go online to www.kdheks.gov/algae-illness/algae_advisories.htm.