Researchers from the University of Regina are taking a closer look at toxic algae in Saskatchewan lakes, including Buffalo Pound Lake.

The research began looking at water quality in the Qu’Appelle lakes in 1994 and every year since then from May to September.

The most common toxic algae found in the area is Green-Blue Algae.

Professor Peter Leavitt, the Canada Research chair at the U of R's biology department, describes with Green-Blue Algae typically look like.

“Depending on the species they might form with looks like green paint on the surface of the water or it might look like grass blade clippings as if somebody's dumped their lawnmower catcher into the lake or it might give the lake a slightly greyish tint,” Leavitt said.

The toxins in the algae can be outright lethal for dogs and livestock if injected, while people can experience less severe symptoms.

"Typically the effect is relatively minor, usually some form of stomach ailment but with chronic exposure, long-term exposure, the same toxins have been linked to cancer-causing processees and they can be outright lethal to humans although, fortunately, that's a very rare thing,” Leavitt said.

He noted that treatment plants do a good job of removing dissolved organic matter from tap water and it shouldn’t be an issue unless the system is overwhelmed. Leavitt said the plant upgrade plans at Buffalo Pound could make the situation better.

The research found seasons play a significant role in the algae’s lifecycle. Water tends to be less toxic in spring, while in late summer when the water is warmer the water can become more toxic and there is a high probability of exposure.

Leavitt said the forecast with climate change is the prairies will warm up by three degrees in the next 30 years, which could produce twice as much toxic algae, making conditions more frequent and intense in the future.

The research also looks at the nutrients in the water that can give the toxic algae a foothold. Leavitt said the best thing we can do to help control the algae is to control the nutrients. Leavitt said some tips include managing livestock’s access to water running into the lakes, septic systems near lakes need to be up to code so they aren’t leaking and practice management strategies such as only using fertilizer in fields when needed.