Blue-green algae ID’d in Kehewin Lake

Please note waters of Kehewin Lake in which the cyanobacterial bloom is not visible can still be used for recreational purposes, even while this Health Advisory is in place. Image: file photo, Kehewin Lake. 

Blue-green algae blooms have been identified in Kehewin Lake.

Visitors to this lake are advised to take the following precautions:

• 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).

Other Lakeland area waterbodies with blue-green algae this year, according to Alberta Health Services, include:

• Bonnie Lake (Smoky Lake County)
• Buffalo Lake
• Floatingstone Lake
• Garner Lake (Smoky Lake County)
• Lac La Biche Lake
• Stoney Lake

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

An alternate source of drinking water should also be provided for pets and livestock while this advisory is active.