ALLEGAN COUNTY, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – In an update to a report issued last Friday, the Allegan County Health Department has confirmed the presence of
Harmful Algal Blooms. (Photo courtesy Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE)).
harmful algae in Swan Lake, located in Cheshire Township.
That comes after two test results showed the presence of algal toxin microcystin, which the EPA notes as a potent liver toxin and possible human carcinogen.
The EPA also notes that these types of toxins can kill livestock and pets who drink from affected waters.
In response, the Allegan County Health Department says people and pets should avoid all water-related activities until the bloom dissipates.
Actions to take in the Areas where the Bloom is Visible:
- Avoid areas with scummy water in the lake or with water that looks like spilled paint or has a green sheen to it. These scums may contains flecks, foam or clumps.
- Avoid water-related activities in areas where the bloom is visible. Individuals that have skin contact, swallow large amounts, or play in the water are susceptible to illness. Read more here.
- Keep pets from drinking or playing in the lake water. Symptoms of illness from cyanotoxins often appear quicker in animals than in humans – sometimes in minutes to a few hours. Symptoms in animals can include vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, staggered walking, excessive salivation, convulsions, erratic behavior, or physical distress.
- Dogs should be thoroughly rinsed off or bathed with fresh water after contact with water that may contain algae, even if it’s not toxic algae.
For more information on HABs, visit www.michigan.gov/habs.
A map of the test sites at Swan Lake can be viewed below.
Areas in Swan Lake, located in Allegan County, where tests were done in August 2020 to detect harmful algae. (Photo courtesy Allegan County Health Department).
