Toxic algae detected in Lake Powell: NPS issues advisory
The bloom was detected in Antelope Canyon, but may be present in other parts of the lake.
LAKE POWELL, Ariz. — The National Park Service put out a water advisory for Lake Powell after a toxic algae bloom was detected in Antelope Canyon this week.
Visitors are advised to use caution and avoid unnecessary exposure to reservoir water if fishing or boating in the area. Other parts of the lake may also be affected, NPS said.
As of Wednesday morning, there are no closures on the lake.
Harmful algae, known as blue-green algae, is a common native species in Arizona and Utah. However, it can produce dangerous amounts of cyanotoxins while in bloom. Exposure symptoms include nausea, vomiting, digestive distress, breathing problems, seizures or other unexplained illnesses.
NPS recommends the following precautions:
- Don’t swim in water that has an algal bloom.
- Don’t boat, water ski, or jet-ski on scummy water. These activities can cause toxins to become airborne, increasing the likelihood you will inhale them.
- Clean-harvested fish in treated water. As always, remember to clean, drain, and dry all boats and fishing gear.
- Keep children away from scum in the water or along the shore.
- Keep pets or livestock from swimming or drinking from scummy waters.
- Always take a shower after coming into contact with any surface water whether or not an algal bloom appears to be present. Rinse/wash animals immediately if they swim in scummy water and don’t let them lick their fur.
The agency didn’t release a timeframe for the advisory but you can find more updates on their website at www.nps.gov/glca.
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