NEWS RELEASE
from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality

For more information, contact Brian McManus Public Information Officer (402) 471-4223

For Immediate Release August 13, 2004

HEALTH ALERT UPDATE
a joint release from the
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services – Regulation and Licensure
Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

August 13, 2004

Contact
Brian McManus, Department of Environmental Quality, (402) 471-4223
Kathie Osterman, Health and Human Services System, (402) 471-9313
Jim Fuller, Game and Parks Commission, (402) 471-5550

Five Nebraska Lakes on Health Alert; Carter Lake Receives Joint Alert
Fremont Lake 20, Hanson Lake 4, Conestoga Removed from Alert Status

Lincoln – Five lakes in Nebraska are currently on Health Alert for toxic blue-green algae, and the states of Nebraska and Iowa are also declaring a joint alert for Carter Lake. (The town of Carter Lake is in Iowa, but the lake itself is partially in Nebraska, north of downtown Omaha.) Alerts have been removed at Fremont Lake 20, Hanson Lake 4 and Conestoga Reservoir, but sampling will continue at these lakes.

Health Alerts are in effect for the following lakes, due to high readings of blue-green algal toxins in samples taken Monday, August 9:

· Pawnee Lake, near Emerald;
· Swan Creek Reservoir 5A, near Tobias;
· Wedgewood Lake in Lincoln;
· Iron Horse Trail, near DuBois;
· Wagon Train Reservoir, near Hickman

Wagon Train Reservoir demonstrates that the toxic algae situation can be persistent and can recur after levels have subsided, state officials said. This lake was on alert two weeks ago, and was downgraded from a health alert to an advisory status when Aug. 2 readings indicated a low health risk. However, Wagon Train Reservoir again exceeded the Health Alert threshold of 15 parts per billion for the toxin microcystin in samples taken Aug. 9.

Officials from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission said they will continue prohibitions against full-body contact including swimming, water skiing, jet skiing, sailboarding and tubing at state facilities that are under Health Alert status. The state is also urging the public to pay particular attention to small children and pets, to make sure they don’t come in contact with the water. Recreational boating and fishing are permitted, as long as the public makes sure to avoid situations that could possibly involve the ingestion of water. People can still use the areas for camping, picnics, and other outdoor activities. Game and Parks officials suggest that anglers practice catch-and-release fishing, as the toxins created by the algae can accumulate in the organs of fish. These restrictions will continue until the state finds that all sampling locations at these lakes are below the state’s threshold for declaring a Health Alert.

The states of Nebraska and Iowa are issuing the same prohibitions and precautions at Carter Lake. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will contact Carter Lake officials to post signs at the lake’s public recreation areas, and officials of both states are contacting the media and informing the public of the situation. Iowa and Nebraska officials will continue to conduct coordinated sampling efforts at this lake.

Toxins have subsided at Fremont Lake 20 (7.71 ppb), Conestoga Reservoir (9.15 ppb), and Hanson Lake 4 (7.14 ppb) and these sites have been downgraded from a health alert to the lower risk advisory status.

Samples will be collected again at all of these locations on Monday, August 16, and the analysis of these samples should be available on Friday, August 20.

Readings were low at other lakes that had been sampled this week. Other sites sampled this week, and their toxin levels were: Red Willow Reservoir (7.2 ppb), Maloney Reservoir (3.98 ppb), and Alexandria State Recreation Area West Lake (3.73 ppb) and East Lake (2.3 ppb). Readings were 0 (below detectable levels) at: Branched Oak Lake, Bluestem Reservoir, Christopher Cove near Columbus, Holmes Lake Dog Run (Lincoln), and the lake located by Interstate 80 at the Maxwell interchange.

NOTE: Fact sheets and updates are available at DEQ’s web site: www.deq.state.ne.us and at HHS’s web site: www.hhs.state.ne.us

FACT SHEET:
Precautions and facts regarding toxins in lakes

A Joint Publication from the
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and the
Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality

What is “toxic algae” or “blue-green algae”?

Toxic algae or blue-green algae has been found in a number of Nebraska lakes this spring and summer. The poison produced by algae can cause human and animal health problems ranging from skin irritation, diarrhea, and vomiting, to death from liver or respiratory failure.

Toxic algae thrives in stagnant water, during warm weather with drought or near drought conditions.


What should I look for to avoid toxic algae?

Areas of algae bloom where poisonings occur usually have heavy surface growths of green scum with a disagreeable odor and taste. It can have a thickness similar to motor oil. Algae blooms usually accumulate near the shoreline where pets and toddlers have easy access and the water is shallow and more stagnant. It is important to keep a watchful eye on children and pets so that they do not enter the water. Aspects to watch out for include:

• Water that has a neon green, pea green, blue-green or reddish-brown color;
• Water that has a bad odor;
• Foam, scum or a thick mat on the water surface; and/or,
• Green or blue-green streaks on the surface, or accumulations in bays and along shorelines.

What are the risks involved with these types of toxins?

Pets and farm animals have died from drinking water containing toxic algae (or licking their wet hair/fur/paws after they have been in the water). Toxic algae poisons have been known to last in water for as long as two weeks after the bloom has disappeared.

While the risk to humans is mainly that of skin rashes and blisters, there have been instances of diarrhea, nausea, vomiting as well as liver disease. The poison can be fatal.

Are some people more at risk?

Yes. Some people will be at greater risk of injury/illness or even death from toxic algae than the general population. Those at greater risk include:

• Children. Toddlers tend to explore the shoreline of a scummy pond, causing greater opportunity for exposure. Based on body weight, children tend to drink a higher volume of water than adults, and therefore could be at greater risk.

• People with liver disease or kidney damage.

Here are some tips on what you can do, and things to avoid:

• Be aware of areas with visible algae and keep animals and children away from the water;
• Don’t wade or swim in water containing visible algae, and avoid direct contact with dense mats of algae;
• Don’t drink water or let children, livestock or pets get into the water. Remember boiling the water does not make it safe to drink.
• Make sure children are supervised at all times when they are near water. Drowning, not exposure to algae, remains the greatest hazard of water recreation.
• If you do come in contact with the algae or the water around algae blooms, rinse off with fresh water as soon as possible;
• If you are wading in knee deep water and can’t see your feet, get out of the water immediately and wash well;
• Don’t boat or water ski through algae blooms;
• Remember: drinking water containing toxic algae can be potentially fatal, so avoid any situation that could lead to swallowing potentially contaminated water.

What are the symptoms associated with exposure to toxic algae?

• From primarily external exposure -- Skin rashes, mouth ulcers, ulcers inside of the nose, eye and/or ear irritations, blistering of the lips, sore throat (symptoms increase significantly with the duration of water contact and the density of the lake)
• From ingestion -- Headaches, nausea, muscular pains, painful diarrhea, vomiting, central abdominal pain, seizures, liver failure, respiratory arrest, death (severity of the illness is related to the amount of water and toxins ingested).

Is it safe to eat fish from lakes that are known to contain high levels of toxic algae?

The toxins have been found in the liver, intestines and pancreas of fish. Due to the potential for accumulation of these toxins in fish, it is recommended that anglers consider practicing catch and release during this Health Alert.

If I think my lake is affected, who do I call?

If you believe that your lake is affected, please contact the Department of Environmental Quality’s Surface Water Section at (402) 471-0096.

Can I take samples and find out results?

As part of the University of Nebraska Water Quality Extension Program, UN-L has developed a "Volunteer Monitoring Program" and lake test kit that involves lake users, owners, etc. in the sample collection process. To obtain more information and a test kit please contact Tadd Barrow at (402) 472-7783, Hilary Hansen at 472-3305 or Tricia Liedle at 472-9537.

For more information, contact
MoreInfo@NDEQ.state.NE.US

Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality
1200 "N" Street, Suite 400
PO Pox 98922
Lincoln, Nebraska 68509
(402) 471-2186 FAX (402) 471-2909