By Liam Verster

Blue-Green Algae at Bear Lake

Blue-green algae bloom advisory issued for Bear Lake

Jul 29, 2021 | 10:06 AM

Alberta Health Services has issued an advisory for Bear Lake in the County of Grande Prairie after identifying blue-green algae blooms in the water.

Residents and visitors to Bear Lake are advised to avoid all contact with blue-green algae blooms; do not swim or wade in the areas where the algae is visible; and do not feed fish or fish trimmings from the lake to pets.

AHS also advises people keep their pets out of the water when blue-green algae is visible.

If a person or pet does come in contact with the algae, AHS advises that they wash with tap water right away.

Blue-green algae blooms are naturally occuring and often become visible when weather conditions are calm. The algae can appear like scum, grass clippings, fuzz or globs on the water’s surface, and can also come in a range of colours from blue-green to greenish-brown to pinkish-red. It often smells musty or grassy.

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Coming into contact with blue-green algae blooms can cause skin irritation, rash, sore throat, sore red eyes, swollen lips, fever, nausea and vomiting and/or diarrhea. Symptoms usually appear with one to three hours, and resolve in one to two days. Children may often have more pronounced symptoms after coming in contact with the algae.

AHS also advises that people limit their consumption of fish from the lake, and says people should never drink or cook with untreated water from any recreational body of water including Bear Lake. Boiling water will not remove toxins produced by the blue-green algae, and people are advised to have an alternative source of drinking water.

AHS says areas of Bear Lake where the blue-green algae bloom is not visible can still be used for recreational purposes, even while the advisory is in effect.