Courtesy photo

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment samples recreational bodies of water for blue-green algae when the agency is alerted to a potential algae bloom. When harmful algal blooms are present, KDHE, in cooperation with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism respond by informing the public of these conditions.

Based upon sampling results and established health risk levels, the following warnings and advisories are in place.

Kansas public waters currently under warning in our area include the lake at Dillon Nature Center in Hutchinson, Santa Fe Lake and Augusta City Lake, in Augusta, Memorial Park Lake, in Great Bend, Rigg’s City Lake, in Haysville, Harvey County East Lake, Harvey County Camp Hawk Lake and Harvey County West Lake, all in Harvey County

For these warnings, that means don’t drink lake water, avoid swimming, wading or other activities with full body contact of lake water, clean fish well, consume only the fillet portion, and discard all other parts, and keep pets from having contact with or drinking lake water

Kansas public waters currently under advisory in our area includes Marion County Lake.

KDHE will continue to monitor these public waters and will update these statements as conditions warrant.

More information on algae and algae blooms, including up-to-date conditions, can be found at the following links, www.kdheks.gov/algae-illness/index.htm, or www.kdheks.gov/algae-illness/download/BGA_recreation_fact_sheet.pdf.