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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
September 19, 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
Toxic Blue-green Algae Health Alerts Continue at Pawnee and Willow
Creek; Alerts End at Kirkman’s Cove and Merritt Reservoir
State-issued health alerts for toxic blue-green algae continue in effect at
Pawnee Reservoir (Lancaster County) and Willow Creek Reservoir (Pierce County). Merritt
Reservoir (Cherry County) and Kirkman's Cove Reservoir (Richardson County) were both
removed from the health alert list.
Samples taken earlier this week at one beach at Pawnee Reservoir were still just 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). Willow Creek
reservoir also tested above the limit. These two reservoirs will remain on the list for
the next two weeks.
Kirkman's Cove and Merritt reservoirs both showed readings that had dropped below the
action level for the second week in a row, and have been removed from the list. 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 swimming beaches at
both 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. Monitoring will end for the year after the September 29 sample. 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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