Blue-green algae spotted at Floatingstone Lake

Alberta Health Services has issued a health advisory for Floatingstone Lake after blue-green algae was detected in the water.

ST. PAUL - A blue-green algal bloom has been spotted at Floating Stone Lake, within the County of St. Paul. Alberta Health Services (AHS) sent a health advisory on July 14, stating, "A cyanobacterial (blue-green algal) bloom and/or toxins have been identified in the waters of Floatingstone Lake." Residents living near the shores of the lake, as well as visitors should take precautions to avoid the blue-green algae.

The advisory recommends people: - Do not swim or wade in any areas where cyanobacterial blooms are visible. - Avoid all contact with cyanobacterial blooms in the water and washed up on shore. Wash with clean tap water as soon as possible if contact occurs.

- Do not drink or cook with water from this lake. - Do not eat whole fish or fish trimmings from this lake as fish may store toxins in their liver. Fish fillets contain less toxins and are safer to eat.

- Keep pets away from the water. Do not allow pets to swim in areas where cyanobacterial blooms are visible or to contact blooms in the water or on the shore. - Do not feed whole fish or fish trimmings from this lake to your pets.

"As always, visitors and residents are reminded to never drink or cook with untreated water directly from any body of water, including Floatingstone Lake, at any time. Boiling of this water will not remove the toxins produced by cyanobacteria. An alternate

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source of drinking water should also be provided for pets and livestock while this advisory is active," according to AHS. Cyanobacteria are naturally occurring and blooms are more common during warm weather. "Cyanobacterial blooms can be blue-green, greenish-brown, brown, pink and/or red, and can look like scum, streaks, grass clippings, fuzz balls, paint or pea soup. They often smell musty or grassy." The advisory further adds, "People who come in contact with a cyanobacterial bloom or who ingest water containing cyanobacteria may experience skin irritation, rash, sore throat, sore red eyes, swollen lips, fever, nausea and vomiting and/or diarrhea. Symptoms can appear within one to three hours and resolve in one to two days. Symptoms in children are often more pronounced; however, all people are at risk of these symptoms. Exposure to cyanobacteria may be fatal to pets." The blooms...

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