You May Not Want To Swim In This One Louisiana Lake Due To A Dangerous Discovery
By Jackie Ann|Published April 13, 2018
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Jackie Ann
Author
Louisiana native and LSU Alum (Geaux Tigers!), Jackie has lived in Louisiana for over three decades and currently lives in New Orleans. She's been writing for OnlyInYourState since 2016 and can often be found with a coffee at her side, dreaming of her next adventure.
There is a potentially harmful algae currently blooming in Lake Pontchartrain, and you should be aware of it. The algae can be toxic to humans and pets, so officials are warning the general public to stay out of the water until more testing can be done. Here’s what we know about this harmful algae that has popped up in the northern part of Lake Pontchartrain.
The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation is warning the general public about the recent discovery of harmful algal blooms near the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain.
This sent massive amounts of river water into Lake Pontchartrain. The freshwater from the river carries high levels of nutrients, including fertilizer from farms. Officials believe that the newly added nutrients combined with earlier rainfall and above average temperatures all contributed to the algae bloom.
It’s generally unsafe to swim in water with algal blooms, and keep in mind that even boaters may be exposed to the toxins of the blooms through water spraying from the boat.
Officials are hopeful that the algae blooms will not last longer than a couple of weeks.
As the freshwater levels in the lake returns to normal, the algae blooms should die off. This, of course, could potentially cause other problems. The microbes that help the age decay remove oxygen from the water, which can lead to dead zones where fish can’t survive, similar to those seen in the Gulf of Mexico.
In the meantime, check out this Youtube video posted by WDSU for more information.
If you have gone swimming in Lake Pontchartrain recently, keep an eye out for any of the symptoms listed above and see a doctor if you are concerned about potential exposure to the algae.
Though they believe the bloom should only last a few weeks, avoid the lake for the time being and wait for any official statements that the process has finished before diving back in.
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