Alberta Health Services (AHS) has issued a blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) bloom advisory in the areas of Haunted Lake, which is a 5-minute drive east of Alix.

AHS recommends residents who live near the shores of this lake or any visitors to the lake take the following precautions:

  • Avoid all contact with blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms. If contact occurs, wash with tap water as soon as possible.
  • Do not swim or wade, or allow your pets to swim or wade in any areas where blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) is visible.
  • Do not feed whole fish or fish trimmings from this lake to your pets.
  • Consider limiting human consumption of whole fish and fish trimmings from this lake, as it is known that fish may store toxins in their liver. (People can safely consume fish fillets from this lake).

AHS recommends that you never drink or cook with untreated water from any of our bodies of water, and an alternate source of water for pets and livestock should be provided while this advisory is in place. 

Blue-green algae is naturally occurring, and often becomes visible when weather conditions are calm. Appearing like scum, grass clippings, fuzz or globs on the surface of water, blue-green algae can be blue-green, greenish-brown, brown, and/or pinkish-red, and often smell musty or grassy.

More information can be found at ahs.ca/bga. 

Photo courtesy of Google maps.