Harmful algal blooms still an issue

Cooler weather may have arrived, heralding the eventual return of winter, but that doesn’t mean bodies of water with harmful cyanobacterial blooms (HCB) are any less of a danger.

The Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Wyoming Department of Health and Wyoming Livestock Board are continuing to remind people—especially hunters and anglers—to continue to avoid harmful algal blooms.

“Although most blooms occur during the warmer months and blooms are expected to dissipate as temperatures decrease, some types of cyanobacteria are known to persist in freezing conditions and may continue to pose health risks to people and animals,” read a press release from Wyoming DEQ.

One body of water which was impacted by HCBs earlier this year was Saratoga Lake, marking the fifth year the Wyoming Game and Fish Department managed trout fishery has been issued an advisory. It was one of seven lakes or reservoirs in the state to have an advisory regarding harmful toxins from algal blooms and one of 29 to have a bloom advisory.

According to the press release, Wyoming DEQ finished their HCB sampling at the end of October, consistent with the state’s HCB Action Plan.

“Despite the discontinuation of sampling, recreational use advisories continue to be in place for a number of waterbodies,” read the press release. “As outlined in the action plan, advisories will remain in place until blooms have fully dissipated and cyanotoxin concentrations are below recreation use thresholds or December 31, whichever comes first.”

Saratoga Lake is among those with an advisory still in effect with the last sampling being conducted on October 3.

With advisories still in place, Wyoming Department of Health and the Wyoming Livestock Board continue to recommend the following:

• Avoid contact with water in the vicinity of the bloom, especially in areas where cyanobacteria are dense and form scum.
• Do not ingest water from the bloom. Boiling, filtration or other treatments will not remove toxins.
• Rinse fish with clean water and eat only the filet portion.
• Avoid water spray from the bloom.
• Do not allow pets or livestock to drink water near the bloom, eat bloom material or lick fur after contact.
• If people, pets or livestock come into contact with a bloom, rinse off with clean water as soon as possible.

For more information on HCBs and recreation use advisories in Wyoming, visit WyoHCBs.org.