Toxic Blue-Green Algae Bloom Seen At Chapman Lake
May 24, 2024 at 7:27 p.m.
WINONA LAKE — This week, the Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams identified a highly toxic bluegreen algae (cyanobacteria) bloom in Big Chapman Lake. As a result, the Lilly Center urges lake residents to exercise caution and look for telltale signs of a bluegreen algae bloom such as an oil spilllike appearance.
Thanks to a tip from a Chapman Lake resident, Lilly Center researchers conducted an analysis of microcystin, a bluegreen algae toxin, in the lake to identify any potential threats, according to a news release from the Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management's threshold for pet safety is 0.8 parts per billion (ppb) and 8.0 ppb for human safety. Initial lab results from water samples in the north channel of Nelly’s Bay indicated a toxin level of 160.4 ppb. Further tests showed that the bloom had dissipated somewhat and dropped to 1.7 ppb.
However, toxin results from a second channel in Nelly’s Bay showed a microcystin concentration of 41.3 ppb. Although the visible bloom may begin to dissipate in the coming days, toxins may linger.
Lake residents are encouraged take precautionary measures including avoiding contact with the bloom, avoiding ingesting toxinladen water and rinsing lake water off with fresh water. Pet owners are encouraged to keep their pets out of the water until after the bloom has disappeared.
The main body of Big Chapman Lake had microcystin levels below the pet and human safety threshold.
Spotting a bluegreen algae bloom is easy if you know the signs. A bloom will often have a pea soup or paint spilllike appearance and often be bright green or blue. Performing the “stick test” will help you identify the difference between harmless green algae and potentially toxic bluegreen algae. Green algae is stringy and will hang off the stick, but bluegreen algae will simply stir like paint.
If you spot a bluegreen algae bloom or something you cannot identify, report it to the Lilly Center by emailing [email protected] or calling 5743725281.
Supported by the K21 Health Foundation and the Kosciusko County Convention, Recreation and Visitor Commission, the Lilly Center conducts weekly sampling on 14 lakes and at seven public beaches throughout Kosciusko County. Samples are processed in the Lilly Center's lab, and results are posted to our website each Friday, beginning June 7.
Sign up for weekly toxin notifications at lakes.grace.edu/microcystin.
WINONA LAKE — This week, the Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams identified a highly toxic bluegreen algae (cyanobacteria) bloom in Big Chapman Lake. As a result, the Lilly Center urges lake residents to exercise caution and look for telltale signs of a bluegreen algae bloom such as an oil spilllike appearance.
Thanks to a tip from a Chapman Lake resident, Lilly Center researchers conducted an analysis of microcystin, a bluegreen algae toxin, in the lake to identify any potential threats, according to a news release from the Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management's threshold for pet safety is 0.8 parts per billion (ppb) and 8.0 ppb for human safety. Initial lab results from water samples in the north channel of Nelly’s Bay indicated a toxin level of 160.4 ppb. Further tests showed that the bloom had dissipated somewhat and dropped to 1.7 ppb.
However, toxin results from a second channel in Nelly’s Bay showed a microcystin concentration of 41.3 ppb. Although the visible bloom may begin to dissipate in the coming days, toxins may linger.
Lake residents are encouraged take precautionary measures including avoiding contact with the bloom, avoiding ingesting toxinladen water and rinsing lake water off with fresh water. Pet owners are encouraged to keep their pets out of the water until after the bloom has disappeared.
The main body of Big Chapman Lake had microcystin levels below the pet and human safety threshold.
Spotting a bluegreen algae bloom is easy if you know the signs. A bloom will often have a pea soup or paint spilllike appearance and often be bright green or blue. Performing the “stick test” will help you identify the difference between harmless green algae and potentially toxic bluegreen algae. Green algae is stringy and will hang off the stick, but bluegreen algae will simply stir like paint.
If you spot a bluegreen algae bloom or something you cannot identify, report it to the Lilly Center by emailing [email protected] or calling 5743725281.
Supported by the K21 Health Foundation and the Kosciusko County Convention, Recreation and Visitor Commission, the Lilly Center conducts weekly sampling on 14 lakes and at seven public beaches throughout Kosciusko County. Samples are processed in the Lilly Center's lab, and results are posted to our website each Friday, beginning June 7.
Sign up for weekly toxin notifications at lakes.grace.edu/microcystin.