Kansas residents who are hoping to make the most of the Memorial Day weekend by engaging in aquatic pursuits may find that their plans need to be changed after high levels of blue green algae were detected in several lakes.

With local temperatures expected to reach 92 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday, swimming would be a popular way to spend the time but the presence of cyanobacteria in four lakes and reservoirs may require locals to stay away from some unsafe water conditions.
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The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) constantly monitor the public waters for blue green algae and the arrival of the toxic blooms has seen them -issue a Public Health Warning at Marion County Reservoir, Marion County Lake, Winfield City Lake and the Memorial/Veterans Lake in Great Bend.

This warning prohibits direct contact with the water and limits the chance for visitors to these areas to engage in swimming, wading, water skiing or anything else that would involve direct full body contact with the water.Contact with the algae can be poisonous to humans who can experience diarrhea or vomiting while animals can die if they drink infected water.

Blue green algae threatens water recreation

Blue green algae flourishes in hot conditions and commonly appears on the surface of the water as pond scum. Algae removal is always a concern for the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism with lake managers required to report any sightings of the potentially harmful blooms.

The mild winter and early spring weather has been a contributing factor in the arrival of this unwelcome visitor with officials in Kansas hoping that recreational pursuits and potential tourism will not be as badly affected as summer 2011 when the algae affected three dozen Kansas lakes.

Cheney State Park, one of the largest in Kansas, saw its summer revenue halved due to the presence of blue green algae and at least five dogs died as a result of exposure to the blooms.

“It was just like a ghost town out here, and our worst financial year ever,” commented Tammera Snyder, of Snyder’s Marina at Cheney Reservoir. “It was super-hot, but with the algae, (campers and boaters) couldn’t get into the water."

After last summer's algae problems, officials at KDHE will be hoping that Memorial Day 2012 is not the start of another long summer of aquatic disappointment. 

Posted on May 24th, 2012 under Lake and Pond Algae Control