Blue-green algae in Sturgeon Lake

[walleyehunter]

Local health unit launches information campaign after Ministry of the Environment confirms blue-green algae in Kawartha Lakes

(KAWARTHA LAKES) The local health unit is encouraging residents and visitors who use area lakes and waterways to educate themselves about blue-green algae, to reduce potential health risks, after blooms were confirmed in parts of Sturgeon Lake.

The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit’s campaign, Blue-Green Algae: Get to Know Its True Colours, was launched this week after the Ministry of the Environment confirmed blue-green algae in different parts of lake.

Blue-green algae are primitive microscopic organisms that occur naturally in lakes, bays and inlets around the world. Normally, the algae are barely visible, but during warm weather the algae can rapidly increase in shallow, still waters to form a large mass called a bloom. Dense blue-green algae blooms can make the water look like a bluish-green pea soup, or a shiny paint slick. Most algae blooms are short-lived and break down in a few days or weeks.

While many forms of blue-green algae are harmless, some forms produce toxins that can be harmful to humans and animals, depending on the type and amount of exposure. Children are more vulnerable to the health effects, but both adults and children can suffer some long-term health problems with prolonged exposure.

People are advised to not swim or allow children to play in the water as individuals may develop mild skin rashes or eye irritations. Unaffected areas of the lake can be used as usual, and recreational water activities can resume 24 hours after the bloom has disappeared.

People should also not use the water for drinking, cooking or other consumption. Do not allow pets to drink the water. Do not eat the organs of fish caught in an area with blue-green algae and do not boil the water as it kills the algae but results in the release of more toxins in the water.

Consuming water with blue-green algae can result in headaches, fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.

If people treat water from the lake or waterway for cooking or drinking, they are advised to wait at least a week after the bloom has subsided before resuming normal use of the treated water.

“If people are drawing their water from an area where there are frequent blooms, they may want to consider a drilled well, a dug well far from shore or a water holding tank filled with water from a licensed water treatment plant,” notes health unit environmental health manager Richard Ovcharovich.

To learn more about blue-green algae, visit the health unit website at www.hkpr.on.ca.

[npetersen]

I think we saw one of the blooms off of Sturgeon point when we were out on Sunday. It was a little more green than blue but left a slime on the water as well. We saw this last year in the same area and it stayed around for a few weeks because it was quite calm for that time. We didn't head up towards Bobcaygeon but towards Fenelon seemed fine.