HEALTH ALERT UPDATE

For the first time in months, no lake tested in either Sarpy or Cass County had a result indicating that it poses a serious risk to human health; as a result no lake tested in Sarpy or Cass is currently under a Health Alert or Health Advisory.

A joint release from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services – Regulation and Licensure Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

August 19, 2004

Contact
Brian McManus, Department of Environmental Quality, (402) 471-4223 Marla Augustine, HHSS Communications and Legislative Services, (402) 471-4047 Jim Carney, Game and Parks Commission, (402) 471-5547

Six Lakes Remain on Health Alert Due to High Toxins

Lincoln – Five Nebraska lakes continue to be on Health Alert for toxic blue-green algae, and the states of Nebraska and Iowa are also continuing a joint alert for Carter Lake. (The town of Carter Lake is in Iowa, but the lake itself is partially in Nebraska, north of downtown Omaha.)

As a result of sampling taken Monday, August 16, no lakes were either added or removed from the list of lakes that are on Health Alert status. Those that had tested above the alert threshold last week continued to be high in toxins, while all others remained low. Following is a list of lakes that continue to be on Health Alert:

· Pawnee Lake, near Emerald;
· Swan Creek Reservoir 5A, near Tobias;
· Wedgewood Lake in Lincoln;
· Iron Horse Trail, near DuBois;
· Wagon Train Reservoir, near Hickman;
· Carter Lake, near Omaha Eppley Airport.

Officials from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission said they will continue prohibitions against full-body contact including swimming, water skiing, jet skiing, sailboarding and tubing at state facilities that are under Health Alert status. The state is also urging the public to pay particular attention to small children and pets, to make sure they don’t come in contact with the water. Recreational boating and fishing are permitted, as long as the public makes sure to avoid situations that could possibly involve the ingestion of water. People can still use the areas for camping, picnics, and other outdoor activities. Game and Parks officials suggest that anglers practice catch-and-release fishing, as the toxins created by the algae can accumulate in the organs of fish. These restrictions will continue until the state finds that all sampling locations at these lakes are below the state’s threshold for declaring a Health Alert.

The states of Nebraska and Iowa have jointly issued the same prohibitions and precautions at Carter Lake. Signs have been posted at the lake’s public recreation areas, and Iowa and Nebraska officials will continue to conduct coordinated sampling efforts at this lake. Douglas County health officials also remind the public that swimming is banned on the Nebraska side of Carter Lake, even when the Health Alert is no longer in effect.

Readings were below the Health Alert threshold of 15 parts per billion for the toxin microcystin at all other lakes that had been sampled this week. Other sites sampled this week, and their toxin levels were: Lake McConaughy (two sites: 0.0 ppb and 2.75 ppb); Red Willow Reservoir (2.65 ppb); Maloney Reservoir (2.02 ppb); Fremont Lake #20 (west beach: 11.01 ppb, east beach: 9.91 ppb); Hanson Lake #4 (4.85 ppb); Alexandria State Recreation Area (west lake: 3.87 ppb; east lake: 1.58 ppb); Branched Oak Lake (0.81 and 0.17 ppb); Bluestem Reservoir (0.0 ppb); and Conestoga Reservoir (4.35 ppb).

Samples will be collected again at all of these locations on Monday, August 23, and the analysis of these samples should be available on Friday, August 27.

NOTE: Fact sheets and updates are available at DEQ’s web site: www.deq.state.ne.us and at HHS’s web site: www.hhs.state.ne.us