COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency is urging residents to watch for Harmful Algal Blooms in local bodies of water following recent high temperatures and sunny weather.
These blooms, caused by naturally occurring microscopic organisms called cyanobacteria, typically surface from mid-summer through autumn as scum, foam, mats, or green sheens resembling spilled paint.
While cyanobacteria are common in many lakes, rivers, and streams, specific environmental conditions, including abundant nutrients, warm temperatures, sunlight, and calm waters, can cause them to grow rapidly and produce dangerous toxins that cause illness in both humans and animals.
Because it is impossible to determine if a bloom is toxic by visual inspection alone, health officials advise the public to adhere strictly to all posted beach advisories, signs, and closures regarding HABs or fecal bacteria like E. coli.
Residents must not attempt to treat the water to kill the algae, as chemical treatments can rupture the cyanobacteria cells and release concentrated toxins directly into the open water.
Suspicious algae formations should be reported to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) by calling the Environmental Assistance Center at 1-800-662-9278, or by emailing descriptive photographs to AlgaeBloom@Michigan.gov.
To minimize health risks, individuals, children, and pets should stay completely out of the water and away from shorelines where a bloom is suspected. If a bloom is localized, recreation may continue safely in unaffected areas of the water body, provided the water is clear. However, experts warn that people should remain out of the water entirely if they cannot see their own feet when standing knee-deep, even if there is no visible scum on the surface.
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