Alberta Health Services (AHS) is warning that cyanobacteria, known as blue-green algae, has been identified in Clear Lake, in the MD of Willow Creek.
The naturally occurring bacteria can appear blue-green, greenish-brown, brown, and/or pinkish-red, and often smell musty or grassy. It can look like scum, grass clippings, fuzz, or globs on the surface of water.
AHS said people who come in contact with cyanobacteria or ingest water containing it may experience skin irritation, rash, sore throat, sore red eyes, swollen lips, fever, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
Symptoms often appear within one to three hours and clear up in one to two days. Symptoms can be more pronounced in children, but everyone is at risk.
Additionally, AHS encourages anyone near the lake to take precautions, including avoiding all contact with cyanobacterial blooms. Humans and pets should not swim or wade in areas where cyanobacteria is visible.
Also, do not feed whole fish or fish trimmings from the …