Algae level keeps advisory in effect, boating and fishing remain safe

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced Thursday that levels of blue-green algae at Marion County Lake are still too high for direct contact with the water.

An advisory issued by KDHE earlier this summer remains in effect following the most recent testing of water samples from the lake.

The advisory indicates water activities like boating and fishing may be safe, but direct contact with water — wading or swimming — is strongly discouraged for people and pets.

The department also recommends the following precautions for lake visitors:

• Do not drink the lake water.
• Clean fish well and consume only the fillet portion, discarding all other parts.
• Keep pets from having contact with or drinking the lake water.

KDHE continues to monitor public waters where toxic blue-green algae have been detected until it is determined algae have returned to a safe level.

The county has made arrangements to send samples to KDHE every two weeks, Marion County Environmental Health Director Tonya Richards said. Otherwise, the tests would only be done once per month.