By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

Marion County Park and Lake remains under a blue-green algae watch until Kansas Department of Health and Environment obtains test results from water samples taken Monday.

The algae watch, imposed last week after lake superintendent Isaac Hett notified the state agency he’d seen what appeared to be an algae bloom, could be upgraded to a warning Thursday after KDHE gets tests results from Monday’s water samples.

The state’s recommendation for now is that children, seniors, and anyone with a poor immune system stay out of the water. Pets and livestock should also not be permitted, Hett said.

Fishing is not prohibited at this time, but any fish caught should be thoroughly washed and skinned before it is cooked, he said.

Hett said KDHE will test weekly for the time being.

“Every Monday they’ll be out here testing and then every Thursday they’ll be posting results on their website,” Hett said.