Posted in Kansas August 12, 2018 by

Public Health Warnings Have Been Issued For These 12 Kansas Lakes

It’s in the middle of summer, and you know that means blue-green algae is starting to flare up, or is already taking over. Certain lakes across the state that have the right conditions have become a home for this slimy stuff, but did you know that it’s toxic to both humans and their furry companions? Kansas currently has 12 lakes that you’ll want to stay far, far away from for a while, all issued warnings by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Feel free to also visit their website (or save it in your Favorites) to keep updated on the state of the water at these lakes.

Imagine you go out for a day on the lake, only to discover that there's green slime all over the place, even in the water. You might dismiss it as nothing, however it's actually toxic blue-green algae.
MPCA Photos/Flickr
It's not immediately life threatening for most people, however some of the effects include nausea, headache, skin irritations, GI issues, muscle weakness, and can range from mild to severe. For dogs, ingestion of the algae can even be fatal.
The algae blooms every summer, and only gets worse the warmer it gets. Stagnant water, high sunlight, and high nitrogen levels make for the perfect habitat for it to grow and spread.
Mark Sadowski/Flickr
What's even worse, is we have no way to stop it from growing. Nothing eats it, so we have to wait until it eventually dies off. You can't even boil the water, because although it kills the algae, it doesn't remove the toxins that present an issue to public health.
So, which lakes are on the list right now?
Kansas City District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/Flickr
Currently, 12 lakes are listed as having blue-green algae warnings. Those lakes are:

Atchison Co. Park Lake, Atchison County
Carbondale West Lake, Osage County
Frazier Lake, Grant County
Hodgeman County SFL, Hodgeman County
Jerry Ivey Pond, Saline County
Lake Afton, Sedgwick County
Lake Wabaunsee, Wabaunsee County
Melvern Outlet Pond and Melvern Outlet Swim Pond, Osage County (Melvern Lake itself it still safe.)
Marais Des Cygnes Wildlife Area Lake, Linn County
Perry Lake, Zone B (the Slough Creek arm), Jefferson County
South Park Lake, Johnson County
Webster Lake, Rooks County (with Beach Closure)

Remember that your health is more important than a day at your favorite lake. In addition, if you spot anything like this growing in a different lake, you should call the Kansas Department of Health and Environment at (785)-296-1664. If your plans included one of these lakes this summer, don’t fret- there’s plenty more things to do this summer that don’t involve getting into slimy, toxic water.

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