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Algae Advisory

AHS issues blue-green algae bloom advisory for Buck Lake

Jul 19, 2019 | 3:44 PM

Officials with Alberta Health Services (AHS) say a blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) bloom has been identified in areas of Buck Lake.

Residents living near the shores of this lake, as well as visitors to the lake are advised 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 the lake as it is known that fish may store toxins in their liver. However, people can safely consume fish fillets from the lake.

Visitors and residents are reminded to never drink or cook with untreated water directly from any recreational body of water, including Buck Lake, at any time.

According to AHS officials, boiling of this water will not remove the toxins produced by blue-green algae. An alternate source of drinking water should also be provided for pets and livestock, while the advisory is active.

AHS offcials say blue-green algae is naturally occurring, and often becomes visible when weather conditions are calm. Appearing like scum, grass clippings, fuzz or globs on the surface of water, blue-green algae can be blue-green, greenish-brown, brown, and/or pinkish-red, and often smell 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.

In addition, weather and wind conditions are said to cause algae blooms to move from one location in the lake to another. As such, the advisory will remain in effect for Buck Lake, until further notice.

However, AHS officials point-out areas of Buck Lake in which the blue-green algae bloom is NOT visible can still be used for recreational purposes, even while the blue-green algae Health Advisory is in place.

If you suspect a problem related to blue-green algae or if you require further information on health concerns and blue-green algae, call Health Link at 811. Additional information is also available online, at www.ahs.ca/bga.

(With files from Alberta Health Services)