Blue-green algae identified in Moose Lake: AHS

Alberta Health Services is reporting they’ve found blue-green algae in the waters of Moose Lake.

Where precisely in the vast lake they were found is unclear.

Residents are reminded to:

• Avoid all contact with cyanobacterial blooms. If contact occurs, wash with tap water as soon as possible.
• Do not swim or wade or allow your pets to swim or wade in any areas where cyanobacteria is visible.
• Do not feed whole fish or fish trimmings from this lake to your pets.
• Consider limiting human consumption of whole fish and fish trimmings from this lake, as it is known that fish may store toxins in their liver. (People can safely consume fish fillets from this lake).

Do not use water contaminated with cyanobacteria to water edible plants. This is particularly important for plants with edible parts exposed to the ground surface (such as cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes, and other salad vegetables).

In previous years, pets have died from jumping into the lake and becoming sick due to the cyanobacterial blooms. 

The waters of Moose Lake in which the cyanobacteria bloom is not visible can still be used for recreational purposes, even while this Health Advisory is in place, AHS says. 

Weather and wind conditions can cause algae blooms to move from one location in the lake to another as well.