HAB Health Alerts issued for two more counties

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Nebraska Game and Parks has issued health alerts for Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB), also known as toxic blue-green algae, at Rockford Lake in Gage County and Willow Creek Reservoir in Pierce County. The health alert for Wagon Train Lake in Lancaster County remains in effect. While, Swan Creek Lake in Phelps County, also known as Willard Meyer Recreation Area, has been removed from the health alert.

After examining the lakes, it was found they were above the health alert threshold of eight parts-per-billion of microcystin, the toxin released by some blue-green algae.

Signs are posted in areas under a health alert to advise the public to use caution and designated swimming areas have been temporarily closed. Recreational boating and fishing are permitted, but the public is advise to avoid exposure to the water. Do not let pets drink from or swim in the water. Public camping, picnic, and other outdoor activity areas are still open.

The lakes will continue to be monitored weekly through the end of September.

Updated HAB results can be found at dee.ne.gov.

There may be HAB present in lakes that yet tested, so Nebraskan are again advised to use caution and look for signs of algal blooms before swimming.

Weekly sampling has been conducted at 52 public lakes since mid-May. The lakes will continue to be monitored weekly through the end of September. Sampling results for HAB and bacteria will be updated every Friday and posted on NDEE’s website, http://dee.ne.gov. The state’s monitoring is conducted at public lakes with swimming beaches and high public activity. HAB may also be present in other lakes in Nebraska that are not tested, so the public should use caution if they see signs of algal blooms.