LINCOLN COUNTY – With summer in full swing, the Lincoln County Health Department (LCHD) is reminding the public to be on the lookout for blue-green algae blooms while enjoying area waterways.
“Although warmer temperatures and sunshine are welcomed, this weather creates the perfect conditions for algal blooms to develop, some of which can be harmful to humans and pets when swallowed, touched or inhaled,” LCHD said.
“If it looks like split-pea soup, it is important to stay out,” said Mike Mandli, LCHD Environmental Health Specialist. “These conditions typically occur in Lincoln County during mid-June through mid-September.”
Mandli added that it is important to always be aware of algal blooms.
“Just because it doesn’t look like blue-green algae, doesn’t mean it isn’t in the water,” he stated.
Blue-green algae’s color is often described as pea soup or spilled green paint. However, it can also be other colors, including white, red or brown.
Blue-green algae grows most abundantly in warm, calm, sunny weather with water temperatures above 75°F. When conditions are just right, LCHD said, blue-green algae can grow quickly and create blooms, which may produce a bad odor.
“It can be difficult to tell whether an algae bloom is dangerous or not, so it is best to treat all algae as dangerous, and when in doubt, stay out,” LCHD stated.
Upon arriving to a beach or body of water, LCHD suggests looking for any postings and water quality notices before swimming.
LCHD also provided the following recommendations:
LCHD noted that two safety tips to always follow are to avoid swallowing lake water and to keep dogs from drinking the water or eating material in the water.
“Pets are especially susceptible to blue-green algae because of their relatively small size,” LCHD stated. “Animals do not need to swallow very much contaminated water to become ill. If you think your pet may have come into contact with any blue-green algae, rinse them off right away, do not let them lick the algae off, and contact a veterinarian right away.”
LCHD urges the public to contact a healthcare provider if experiencing the following symptoms after exposure to blue-green algae:
More information about blue-green algae can be found on the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR)’s and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS)’s blue-green algae webpages.
Algae blooms can be reported to DNRHABS@wisconsin.gov.
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