FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Issued jointly from the
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services – Regulation and Licensure
Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
UN-L Water Quality Extension Program
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

June 15, 2007

 CONTACTS
Brian McManus, Department of Environmental Quality, (402) 471-4223
Marla Augustine, HHSS Communications and Legislative Services, (402) 471-4047
Jim Carney, Game and Parks Commission, (402) 471-5547
Jim Bowen, USACE (308) 799-2105

 

Health Alert Issued for Harlan County Reservoir;
Alerts Continue for Fremont Lake #20 and Carter Lake

The state has issued a health alert for toxic blue-green algae at Harlan County Reservoir near Alma. Health alerts are also still in effect for Fremont Lake #20 and Carter Lake near Omaha, which have been on alert since early May.

Samples taken June 11 at Harlan County Reservoir and Fremont Lake #20 were above the state’s health alert threshold of 20 parts per billion (ppb) of total Microcystins (a toxin released by certain strains of blue-green algae). Although levels were below the threshold at Carter Lake, a health alert remains in effect. Lakes that are on health alert must have two consecutive weeks of readings below 20 ppb before the alert is removed.

Signs have been posted to advise the public to use caution, and the beaches at Fremont Lake #20 and Harlan County Reservoir will be closed during the health alerts. Recreational boating and fishing are permitted at the lakes, but the public is advised to avoid activities that could involve accidental ingestion of water. People can still use the public areas for camping, picnics and other outdoor activities.

Harlan County Reservoir has never had high toxic algae readings in the previous two years of weekly sampling. Both Carter Lake and Fremont Lake #20 have had numerous Health Alerts issued since the state’s sampling program was instituted in 2004.

All three lakes will continue to be monitored weekly throughout the 2007 recreational season. The state is also taking periodic samples at 41 other public recreational lakes through September. Sampling results for toxic algae will be updated every Friday and posted on the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality’s web site, www.deq.state.ne.us.

(For more information about potential health effects of toxic blue-green algae, what to look for, and steps to avoid exposure, please refer to the attached Fact Sheet.)

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