LINCOLN — The state of Nebraska has issued a health alert for Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), also known as toxic blue-green algae, at Rockford Lake in Gage County. Cub Creek Lake in Jefferson County continues to be on health alert from last week. Both counties are in southeast Nebraska.
Samples taken earlier this week at the lakes on alert measure above the threshold of eight parts per billion (ppb) of total microcystin, which is a toxin released by certain strains of blue-green algae.
When a health alert is issued, signs are posted to advise the public to use caution, and designated swimming beaches are closed during the alert. Rec- reational boating and fishing are permitted, but the public is advised to use caution and avoid exposure to the water, particularly by avoiding any activity that could lead to swallowing the water. Do not let pets get in the water or drink from the lake. People can still use the public areas for camping, picnics, and other outdoor activities.
Weekly sampling has been conducted at 56 public lake sites since the first week of May. The lakes will continue to be monitored weekly through the end of September. To view the weekly data for the lakes sampled and to access the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment’s (DWEE) new interactive Beach Watch map, go to https://deq-iis.ne.gov/zs/bw/.
The state’s monitoring is conducted early in the week at public lakes with swimming beaches and high public activity. Sampling results for microcystin and bacteria are updated every Friday and posted on DWEE’s website, https:// dee.nebraska.gov/.
