Blue-green algae fight ongoing

Mountain View County (MVC) will be working with area residents and other stakeholders to help reduce the risk of future outbreaks of blue-green algae in the Hiller’s Dam reservoir southeast of Olds, say officials.

Alberta Health Services (AHS) issued a release on July 30 informing the public that the algae had been identified at the dam. MVC issued a followup advisory on Aug. 9.

The algae appears as a scum on the surface of the water and can be blue-green, greenish-brown, brown and/or pinkish-red, and it smells musty or grassy.

People who come in contact with blue-green algae or ingest water containing the algae may experience such things as rash, sore throat, sore and red eyes, swollen lips, fever, or nausea and vomiting.

“The best way to help prevent and control blue-green algae in natural waters is to limit excess nutrients that go into the water body,” Jane Fulton, assistant director of legislative, community and agricultural services with MVC, told the Gazette.

“Excess nutrients can be caused by runoff, soil erosion, fertilizers, manure, sewage and other natural occurrences.

“Good watershed management and overall improvement of water quality is a county and community goal that has broad reaches and numerous stakeholders that will continue to provide education, awareness and implement best management practices.”

The county has programs for residents that “focus on water quality improvement within the area and continues to explore further initiatives to support the reduction of nutrients and algae blooms” in the reservoir, she said.

The county is also using signage at the reservoir and information posted online and through social media to inform residents and visitors about blue-green algae risks, she noted.

The recent outbreak of the algae at Hiller’s Dam prompted AHS and MVC officials to issue advisories for visitors and residents to take precautions.

According to AHS, those precautions include avoiding all contact with blue-green algae blooms, not swimming in areas were the blooms are visible, not feeding whole fish or fish trimmings from the lake to pets, and considering limiting human consumption of whole fish and fish trimmings form the lake.

“As always, visitors and residents are reminded to never drink or cook with untreated water directly from any recreational body of water, including Hiller’s Dam,” officials said.

Boiling of water from the lake will not remove the toxins produced by blue-green algae.

“An alternative source of drinking water should also be provided to pets and livestock while the advisory is active. Symptoms in children are often more pronounced. However, all humans are at risk of these symptoms.”

There have been no reports of other blue-green algae outbreaks in other county lakes.

The advisories for Hiller’s Dam remained in effect at press time.