ST. PAUL - A blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) bloom advisory was issued for Lower Thérien Lake on Friday afternoon. The lake is located in the County of St. Paul, southwest of St. Paul.
Visitors to the lake, as well as residents living near the shores, are advised to take precautions to avoid coming in contact with the algae. If contact occurs, wash off with tap water as soon as possible.
Residents should also be careful about letting their pets swim or wade in areas where there may be blue-green algae.
"Do not feed whole fish or fish trimmings from this lake to your pets," reads the advisory. And, "Consider limiting human consumption of whole fish and fish trimmings from this lake, as it is known that fish may store toxins in their liver."
Visitors and residents are reminded to never drink or cook with untreated water directly from any recreational body of water, including Lower Thérien Lake, at any time.
"Boiling of this water will not remove the toxins produced by blue-green algae. An alternate source of drinking water should also be provided for pets and livestock, while this advisory is active," according to Alberta Health Service.
"Blue-green algae is naturally occurring, and often becomes visible when weather conditions are calm. Appearing like scum, grass clippings, fuzz or globs on the surface of water, blue-green algae can be blue-green, greenish-brown, brown, and/or pinkish-red, and often smell musty or grassy."
People who come in contact with blue-green algae or ingest water containing blue-green algae may experience skin irritation, rash, sore throat, sore red eyes, swollen lips, fever, nausea and vomiting and/or diarrhea. Symptoms usually appear within one to three hours and resolve in one to two days, according to AHS.
"Exposure to the blue-green algae may be fatal to pets."
Weather and wind conditions can cause algae blooms to move from one location in the lake to another. This advisory will remain in effect for Lower Thérien Lake, until further notice. Lower Thérien Lake is located southwest of Upper Thérien Lake. Upper Thérien Lake touches the Town of St. Paul.
