Blue-Green Algae Bloom Prompts Public Safety Recommendations At Miami State Fishing Lake

A blue-green algae bloom has formed at Miami State Fishing Lake prompting public safety recommendations from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP).

Blue-green algae are free-floating organisms found in most surface waters and in heavy concentrations form an algae bloom appearing as if green paint were floating on the water. These blooms can cause a number of concerns including production of toxins in the water affecting people, and potentially fish and shellfish.

KDHE and KDWP recommend the following precautions be taken in Miami State Fishing Lake, and any water body where a blue-green algae bloom is observed:

• Avoid drinking water with a high concentration of blue-green algae due to possible illness, and in extremely rare cases, death (and as a general precaution, avoid drinking all untreated lake, pond, or stream water);
• Avoid swimming or wading in water with a blue-green algae bloom due to possible skin irritation and rash, and also avoid water spray when boating and water skiing;
• Fish and shellfish may absorb toxins from the bloom; therefore, avoid consuming any fish or shellfish appearing sick or wounded;

Algae blooms result from the presence of nutrients in the water (nitrogen, and phosphorus) along with temperature and other environmental conditions stimulating algae growth. They result from long-term build up of nutrients in the water body. Concentrations of blue-green algae in water vary on a daily or even hourly basis. In time, the blooms will naturally die off.

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