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Issued jointly from the
Department of Health and Human Services – Division of Public Health
Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
UN-L Water Quality Extension Program
August 22, 2008
CONTACTS
Brian McManus, Department of Environmental Quality, (402) 471-4223
Marla Augustine, HHS Communications and Legislative Services, (402) 471-4047
Dave Tunink, Game and Parks Commission, (402) 471-5553
Tadd Barrow, UN-L Water Quality Extension, (402) 472-7783
Health Alert Issued for Iron Horse Trail Lake, Kirkman's Cove Reservoir
and Willow Creek Reservoir
The state has issued health alerts for toxic blue-green algae at three
Nebraska lakes: Iron Horse Trail Lake (Pawnee County), Kirkman's Cove Reservoir (Pawnee
County) and Willow Creek Reservoir (Pierce County).
Samples taken earlier this week at all three lakes 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.) Lakes that are on health alert must have two
consecutive weeks of readings below 20 ppb before the alert is removed.
Signs are being posted to advise the public to use caution, and the swimming beaches at
the lakes will remain closed during the health alert. The public is advised to avoid
activities that could involve accidental ingestion of water, and to make sure their pets
don’t drink from the lake. People can still use the public areas for picnics and
other outdoor activities.
The state will continue to conduct weekly sampling at 47 recreational lakes through
September. Sampling results for toxic algae and bacteria will be updated every Friday and
posted on NDEQ’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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