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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
July 3, 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 Holmes Lake in Lincoln; Alert Continues at Iron
Horse Trail
The state has issued a health alert for toxic blue-green algae at Holmes
Lake in Lincoln. A health alert also remains in effect for Iron Horse Trail Lake near
DuBois in Pawnee, which was first placed on alert last week.
Samples taken June 30 at Holmes Lake 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 Iron Horse Trail Lake
this week, 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 are being posted at both lakes to advise the public to use caution, and the
swimming beach at Iron Horse Trail Lake 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 lakes. People can still use the public
areas for picnics and other outdoor activities.
Both lakes will continue to be monitored weekly throughout the 2008 recreational
season. The state is also taking periodic samples at 45 other public 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.) |
