For Immediate Release
August 23, 2018

Public Health Warning Issued for Kansas Lakes Due to Blue-Green Algae
New additions in Rawlins, Linn and Osage Counties

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), in conjunction with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT), has issued public health warnings for some Kansas lakes for the upcoming weekend and week.

If a lake is under a public health warning for blue-green algae, activities such as boating and fishing may be safe. However, direct contact with water (i.e., wading, skiing and swimming) is strongly discouraged for people, pets and livestock. The lakes currently under a public health advisory:

·Closure: Webster Lake, Rooks County - Although access to the water is closed, Webster State Park remains open. Drinking water and bath house facilities are not affected by the algae bloom.
·Warning: Atchison Co. Park Lake, Atchison County
·Warning:Atwood Township Lake, Rawlins County
·Warning: Carbondale West Lake, Osage County
·Warning: Frazier Lake, Grant County
·Warning: Lake Afton, Sedgwick County
·Warning: Lake Scott State Park, Scott County
·Warning: Lakewood Park Lake, Saline County
·Warning: Marais Des Cygnes Wildlife Area, Linn County
·Warning: Melvern Outlet Pond, Osage County
·Warning: Melvern Outlet Swim Pond, Osage County Closure – Visitors can utilize Coeur d' Alene Park Swim Beach which sets on the main body of the lake, located west of the U.S. Army Corps. Of Engineers Project Office. The present algae bloom is isolated to the Outlet Pond and Outlet Swim Pond; Melvern Lake is not affected.
·Warning: Overbrook City Lake, Osage County
·Warning: South Lake Park, Johnson County
·Watch: Cottonwood River, south of Emporia
·Watch: Hodgeman County SFL, Hodgeman County
·Watch: Lake Wabaunsee, Wabaunsee County
·Watch:Linn Valley Lake, Linn County
·Watch: Mary's Lake, Douglas County
·Watch:Melvern Lake, Osage County
·Watch: Perry Lake Zone A(the southern portion of the main body, south of the Longview Campground), Jefferson County
·Watch: Perry Lake Zone B (the Slough Creek Arm), Jefferson County
·Watch:Pomona Lake, Osage County
·Watch: Rock Garden Pond, Gage Park, Shawnee County


For information on blue-green algae and reporting potential harmful algal blooms, please visit www.kdheks.gov/algae-illness/index.htm.