Algae warning at lake stretches into 10th week
Marion County Lake is under a blue-green algae warning for a 10th consecutive week, and its 12th since June 15.
On Thursday, Kansas Department of Health and Environment listed 13 lakes affected by blue-alge warnings or watches, and Hodgeman State Fishing Lake has been closed.
Conversely, Marion Reservoir has been free of watches and warnings since the first week of August.
Direct contact with water at the county lake, such as wading, skiing and swimming, is strongly discouraged for people, pets, and livestock. Drinking water and showers are safe and not affected by algae blooms. Boating and fishing are safe, but contact with the water should be avoided. Fish caught during a harmful blue-green algae outbreak are safe to eat as long as the fish is rinsed with clean water. Only the fillet portion should be consumed, and all other parts should be discarded. Hands should be washed with clean water after handling fish taken from an affected lake.