Sarpy County Nebraska

HEALTH ALERT UPDATE

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

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 on Health Alert Due to High Toxins: Merritt Reservoir, Swan Creek, Wedgewood added; McConaughy, Maskenthine Removed

Lincoln – The northeast portion of Merritt Reservoir near Valentine has been added to the list of water bodies that are under a Health Alert for toxic blue-green algae. Alerts have been re-issued for Swan Creek Reservoir 5A near Tobias and Wedgewood Lake in Lincoln. Health alerts also continue for Pawnee Lake, near Emerald; Iron Horse Trail, near DuBois; and Carter Lake. (Carter Lake, located north of downtown Omaha, is partially in Nebraska and Iowa, and officials from both states have issued a joint
alert.)

In addition, two lakes have been removed from Health Alert status as a result of sampling taken Monday, August 30. Alerts have been removed from Lemoyne Bay at Lake McConaughy, and Maskenthine Reservoir near Stanton.

Officials from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission emphasized that it is only the northeast corner of Merritt Reservoir that is under a Health Alert. A sample at another location was below the health alert threshold and the rest of the lake is not considered a health risk. At Pawnee Lake, Iron Horse Trail, Swan Creek, Wedgewood and Carter Lake, full-body contact activities, including swimming, water skiing, jet skiing, sailboarding and tubing, are prohibited for the entire lakes. At Merritt Reservoir, these restrictions apply only to the northeast corner of the lake, east of the dam. The rest of Merritt Reservoir continues to be open to the full range of recreational activities.

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 in those areas where a Health Alert has been issued. Recreational boating and fishing are permitted in those areas, 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.

Samples will be collected again at all of these locations on Tuesday, September 7, and the analysis of these samples should be available on Friday, September 10.