ST. PAUL - A blue-green algae advisory has been issued for areas of Stoney Lake, located in the County of St. Paul.
Anyone using the lake is being advised to take precautions normally associated with blue-green algae, such as avoiding all contact with the cyanobacteria. If contact occurs, be sure to wash off with tap water as soon as possible.
Alberta Health Services recommends people avoid feeding whole fish or fish trimmings from the lake to pets, and limit human consumption of whole fish and fish trimmings.
"As always, visitors and residents are reminded to never drink or cook with untreated water directly from any recreational body of water, including Stoney 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," reads the advisory.
Blue-green algae looks 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 smells musty or grassy.
A number of symptoms are related to blue-green algae if ingested, such as sore throat, sore red eyes, swollen lips, fever, nausea and vomiting and diarrhea.
"Exposure to the blue-green algae may be fatal to pets," according to AHS.
The advisory will remain in effect for Stoney Lake until further notice.
