For the second week in a row, Marion Reservoir is under a toxic blue-green algae bloom warning by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Thursday.
The only other lake in Kansas under an algae-bloom warning is Cheney Lake. The local warning applies to the reservoir, not Marion County Lake.
Lakes under a warning are not closed. Marinas, lakeside businesses and park camping facilities are open for business. If swim beaches are closed, it will be specifically noted.
Drinking water and showers at parks are safe and not affected by algae blooms. Boating and fishing are safe on lakes under a warning, but contact with the water should be avoided.
According to KDHE, it is safe to eat fish caught during a harmful blue-green algae outbreak, as long as the fish is rinsed with clean water; only the fillet portion is consumed and all other parts are discarded. Hands should also be washed with clean water after handling fish taken from an affected lake.
KDHE stated Kansans should be aware that blooms are unpredictable. They can develop rapidly and may float around the lake, requiring visitors to exercise their best judgment.
If visitors notice a scum, a paint-like surface or the water is bright green, avoid contact and keep pets away. These are indications that a harmful bloom may be present.
Pet owners should be aware that animals that swim in, or drink water affected by, a harmful algal bloom or eat dried algae along the shore may become seriously ill or die.
