Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)
Advisories
KDHE has established three advisory levels: Watch, Warning, and Hazard. However, the public should be aware that blooms are unpredictable. They can develop rapidly and may move across a waterbody due to wind or current, so lake visitors must exercise their best judgment.
KDHE does not have the authority to close a lake. KDHE provides recommendations regarding health advisories based on analytical results. Click here to see KDHE's full response plan. To hear current advisories, you may also call the HAB hotline at 785-296-1664.
Current Advisories |
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WATCH | WARNING | HAZARD |
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There are no WATCH advisories at this time. |
There are no WARNING advisories at this time |
There are no HAZARD advisories at this time. |
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Recommendations |
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WATCH | WARNING | HAZARD |
A harmful algal bloom is POSSIBLE AND MAY BE PRESENT
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A harmful algal bloom is EXPECTED OR PRESENT
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A harmful algal bloom is PRESENT, and EXTREME CONDITIONS EXIST
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Report a Suspected Bloom or Health Incident
For KDHE to respond to a sighting of a suspected algal bloom on a public water body, the request must be made through the online Algae Bloom Reporting Form. If you do not have internet access, call the HAB Hotline at 785-296-1664 for reporting instructions.
If a person or animal becomes ill after suspected exposure to an algal bloom, consult medical or veterinary care providers immediately, and report the event. You may report using the online Health Incident Reporting Form, or by emailing KDHE.EpiHotline@ks.gov, or by calling the Epidemiology Hotline at 877-427-7317.
General Information
Monitoring for algal blooms is concurrent with the water recreation season, which is April 1 – October 31. For advisories that are still active outside this time period, KDHE relies on lake managers to monitor changing conditions.
The public is encouraged to stay informed and aware of algal blooms year round. Exposure to Harmful Algal Blooms, whether through contact or ingestion, can cause illness and even death in animals and humans. Do not allow livestock, pets, or working animals such as hunting dogs to drink from HAB-affected waters, eat dried scum on shorelines, or lick their fur after exposure.
KDHE samples public use lakes only in response to complaints of human or animal illness or visual sighting of possible blue-green algae by the public or by lake managers or agency scientists.
Zoned Lakes
Some lakes have more than one management area, or "zone." Click on the lake name to see the zones for the following lakes: Milford, Perry, and Tuttle.
![]() Milford Lake Zones |
![]() Perry Lake Zones |
![]() Tuttle Lake Zones |