PRESS RELEASE
issued jointly from the
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services – Division of Public Health
Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

Contact

Allan Urlis, Office of Communications, DHHS
  (402) 471-6858 (office); allan.urlis@nebraska.gov
Jerry Kane, Game and Parks Commission, (402) 471-5008
Amanda Woita, Public Information Office, NDEE
  (402) 471-4243; amanda.woita@nebraska.gov
Nathanael Urie, Public Information Office, NDEE
  (402) 471-4245; nathanael.urie@nebraska.gov
For Immediate Release
July 18, 2014


Health Alert Issued for Willow Creek Reservoir in Pierce County;
Alert Continues at Rockford Lake in Gage County

A health alert for toxic blue-green algae has been issued for Willow Creek Reservoir in Pierce County. An alert also continues for Rockford Lake in Gage County.

Samples taken earlier this week indicated Willow Creek Reservoir was above the state’s health alert threshold of 20 parts per billion (ppb) of total microcystin (a toxin released by certain strains of blue-green algae.) The alert will continue at the lake for at least two more weeks, because lakes that are on health alert must have two consecutive weeks of readings below the threshold before the alert is discontinued. The health alert which was issued on July 11 for Rockford Lake will continue for at least one more week.

When a health alert is issued, signs are posted to advise the public to use caution, and designated swimming beaches are closed during the alert. Recreational boating and fishing are permitted, but the public is advised to avoid activities that could involve accidental ingestion of water and to avoid full immersion in water. People can still use the public areas for camping, picnics and other outdoor activities.

The lakes will continue to be monitored weekly throughout the 2014 recreational season. Sampling results for toxic algae and bacteria will be updated every Friday and posted on NDEQ’s web site, http://deq.ne.gov.

(For more information about potential health effects of toxic blue-green algae, what to look for, and steps to avoid exposure, please refer to the attached Fact Sheet.)