CHEYENNE, Wyo. — As summer begins to heat up and more people head out to recreate in Wyoming’s lakes and reservoirs, the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) remind the public to avoid harmful cyanobacterial blooms (HCBs).
According to the Wyoming DEQ, cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, can form HCBs that produce toxins and other irritants that pose a risk to human and animal health. HCBs typically develop in mid to late summer and can occur in flowing and non-flowing waters such as streams, rivers, lakes and reservoirs. HCBs can be green, tan, brown or blue-green in color. HCBs that float in or on the water can look like spilled paint, grass clippings, clumps or scums. HCBs can also attach to aquatic plants, rocks or other material.
The WDH says to seek medical attention or a veterinarian if a person or animal is experiencing adverse health effects after exposure to a cyanobacterial bloom. Young children, pregnant women, people with weak immune systems and animals are especially at risk. Information on general health risks and symptoms related to a cyanobacterial bloom can be found here.
If a bloom is present, the WDH and WLB recommend the following:
- Avoid contact with water in the vicinity of the bloom, especially in areas where cyanobacteria are dense.
- Do not ingest water from the bloom. Boiling, filtration or other treatments will not remove toxins.
- Rinse fish with clean water and eat only the fillet portion.
- Avoid water spray from the bloom.
- Do not allow pets or livestock to drink water near the bloom, eat bloom material or lick fur after contact.
- If people, pets or livestock come into contact with a bloom, rinse off with clean water as soon as possible.
The WDH issues advisories for waterbodies where cyanobacteria or toxins could pose a risk to people. A Bloom Advisory is issued for a waterbody when a cyanobacteria bloom is present and cyanotoxins could be present. A Toxin Advisory is issued for a waterbody when toxin concentrations exceed recreational thresholds. However, there could be additional waterbodies with cyanobacterial blooms that the WDH is not aware of. A webmap of current and past advisories and answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) can be found here.
Wyomingites are to report any suspected blooms and bloom-related illnesses to the DEQ and WDH at WyoHCBs.org.
