Two more Kansas lakes added to KDHE blue-green algae advisory

Daniel Fair
·2 min read

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has added two more lakes to its weekly blue-green algae advisory.

The KDHE updates its advisory every Friday and is broken into three levels: hazard, warning and watch.

Atchison State Fishing Lake in Atchison County and Webster Lake in Rooks County were lifted from the advisory.

Here are the Kansas lakes currently listed under the warning advisory.

  • Harvey County East Lake, Harvey County

  • Marion Lake (Reservoir), Marion County

  • Overbrook City Lake, Osage County (Added June 7)

Here are the Kansas lakes currently listed under the watch advisory.

  • Lake Shawnee, Shawnee County

  • Lovewell Lake, Jewell County

  • Woodland Park Pond (Mount Hope), Sedgwick County (Added June 7)

There are currently no lakes listed under the hazard advisory.

Police rush to help officer at I-135 and Pawnee

Watch

A watch status means that an HAB is present or likely to develop.

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 well with potable water and eat fillet portions only.

Warning

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.

More Information

KDHE investigates publicly accessible bodies of water for blue-green algae when the agency receives reports of potential algae blooms in Kansas lakes. Based on credible field observation and sampling results, KDHE and KDWP report on potentially harmful conditions.

If you observe a scum or paint-like surface on the water, small floating blue-green clumps, or filaments in the water, or if the water is an opaque green, avoid contact and keep pets away. These are indications that a harmful bloom may be present.

Pet owners should be aware that animals that swim in or drink water affected by blue-green algae or eat dried algae along the shore may become seriously ill or die.

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