KDHE Home - News 2000 - News Release
Kansas
Department of Health & Environment
Bill Graves, Governor
Clyde D. Graeber, Secretary
For Immediate Release
Contact: Sharon Watson, 785-296-5795
KDHE Issues Public Health Advisory for Parts of Eightmile Creek
Advisory also applies to livestock and pets
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has issued a public health advisory and livestock watering advisory for Eightmile Creek in Butler County. This advisory extends from the Rose Hill Road bridge to the creek's confluence with the Walnut River.
Eightmile Creek is experiencing a large bloom of Microcystis algae. This blue-green algae is potentially toxic and capable of inflicting serious illness in fish, wildlife, domestic animals and, more rarely, in humans. The algal bloom appears to have resulted from a combination of warm weather, low stream flow, and discharges from the Rose Hill wastewater stabilization lagoons.
The department strongly discourages swimming, wading, boating, fishing and other activities involving bodily contact with the water of the stream until further notice. Pet and livestock owners should takes immediate steps to prevent their animals from entering or drinking from the creek.
Departmental personnel will work with the City of Rose Hill to address the water quality issue and monitor the condition of the stream on a regular basis throughout the advisory period.
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