This just in: The Health and Human Services Department has issued a public health advisory for Crystal Lake due to elevated amounts of algae. The algae blooms may produce toxins and can make people and pets sick if swallowed, have direct skin contact, or inhaled. Because they do not know if the algae is at harmful levels, the City is advising users to do the following:
- Do not swallow lake water and be sure to rinse off after contact
- Do not let your pet swim in or drink the lake water
- People and pets should avoid contact in areas of large algae concentration, including the shoreline
- If you observe algae bloom, do not swim, boat or fish
The advisory can be found here..
I am not surprised as I noticed that it looked quite yucky near the fishing area when I drove by this morning. It very much looked paint as mentioned in the memo. Usually the bloom starts a bit later in August when the weather is hotter but I heard this July was the hottest July on record so maybe that explains the earlier bloom.
This is probably a good time to thank Carol Stapleton (from Parks and Rec) and her incredible crew of student lifeguards and other staff for another wonderful summer at Crystal Lake. They are always so welcoming, friendly, and professional. They make this community amenity a very special place for people of all ages!
I am surprised the City did not prohibit people from entering the water at this time. Cyanobacteria can be quite dangerous.
https://www.crwa.org/charles-river-issues/algae