ST. PAUL - A blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) bloom has been identified at Floatingstone Lake, in the County of St. Paul, according to an advisory send out on July 29.
As with all blue-green algae advisories, visitors to this lake, as well as residents living near the shores, are advised by Alberta Health Services to take the following precautions:
- Avoid all contact with blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms. If contact occurs, wash with tap water as soon as possible.
- Do not swim or wade, or allow your pets to swim or wade in any areas where blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) is visible.
- Do not feed whole fish or fish trimmings from this lake to your pets.
- Consider limiting human consumption of whole fish and fish trimmings from this lake, as it is known that fish may store toxins in their liver. (People can safely consume fish fillets from this lake).
Never drink or cook with untreated water directly from any recreational body of water, including Floatingstone Lake, at any time. Boiling of this water will not remove the toxins produced by blue-green algae.
Blue-green algae looks like scum, grass clippings, fuzz or globs on the surface of water. It can be blue-green, greenish-brown, brown, and/or pinkish-red, and often smells musty or grassy.
"People who come in contact with visible blue-green algae or who ingest water containing blue-green algae may experience skin irritation, rash, sore throat, sore red eyes, swollen lips, fever, nausea and vomiting and/or diarrhea. Symptoms usually appear within one to three hours and resolve in one to two days. Symptoms in children are often more pronounced; however, all humans are at risk of these symptoms," reads the AHS advisory.
"Exposure to the blue-green algae may be fatal to pets."
Algae blooms can move from one location in the lake to another. The advisory will remain in effect for Floatingstone Lake until further notice.
