A bloom of blue-green algae has been identified at the Pine Coulee Reservoir, West of Stavely.

The algae has a grass-like smell, and can appear in a variety of colors, usually green-ish brown, but also appears in shades of green, and/or pinkish-red and appears near the water surface.

Alberta Health Services recommends you keep as much distance from the algae as possible, which means no swimming, or skin contact, near visible patches, and to keep your pets and livestock clear from contaminated water.

Contact with the algae, or ingesting water where it has bloomed, has been known to induce a host of flu-like symptoms, such as vomiting, diarrhea as well as skin irritations, swelling and redness.

AHS says areas in the Pine Coulee Reservoir in which the blue-green algae is not visible, can still be used for recreation, so long as water from the area is not being ingested.

 

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