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Algae Advisory Expanded for Grand Lake

Lab Tech works in the GRDA Laboratory at Langley
KWGS News Photo
Lab Tech works in the GRDA Laboratory at Langley

The Blue-Green Algae Advisory for Grand Lake is being expanded to include the area near the Bernice State Park. The toxic algae will cause respiratory problems and hive-like rashes.

Here is the text of a GRDA News Release on the advisory expansion:

The Grand River Dam Authority Ecosystems Management Department is reporting that its latest water testing has confirmed the presence of blue green algae (BGA) in an area of Grand Lake just south of the Highway 85A bridge over Horse Creek and extending near the shoreline of Grand Lake State Park at Bernice. Due to these results, GRDA is advising the public to avoid bodily contact with water in this area. The BGA advisory, issued last Friday for the Fly Creek area of the lake, also remains in place.

“We’re expanding our advisory to this area due to our latest water sampling results,” said GRDA Vice President of Corporate Communications Justin Alberty. “We’re asking the public to take precautions and avoid contact with the water in the Fly Creek and areas of Horse Creek around the Highway 85A bridge.”

Alberty did stress that BGA has only been confirmed in these areas of Grand Lake and the overwhelming majority of the lake is not impacted by these advisories. “There are many other areas and recreational opportunities on this lake for the public to come and enjoy,” he said. “We encourage everyone to come out to Grand but please be aware of the advisories for these specific areas.”

It is recommended that individuals avoid swimming or participating in water recreational activities in areas where the water is discolored or where you see foam, scum or mats of algae on the water. BGA may resemble thick pea soup, green paint or bluish, brownish or reddish-green paint. When BGA washes up on shore, it can form a thick mat on the beach. BGA can reproduce rapidly in water bodies with adequate amounts of sunlight and nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen.