A week after Melvern Lake was put into a blue-green algae warning, conditions have improved to a degree.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has upgraded Melvern Lake from an algae warning to an algae watch. This still means algae has been detected and a bloom is either present or likely to develop — and this still means water may well be unsafe for people and animals.
The alerts followed routine testing from the US Army Corps of Engineers.
People enjoying the lake should avoid areas where algae has collected and should not let pets or other people either eat dried algae or drink contaminated water. Swimming, wading, skiing and jet skiing are discouraged. Boating and fishing are safe, but people should avoid direct contact with the water and should also wash with clean water afterward. Fish caught for eating should be cleaned well with potable water and people should only eat the fillet portion.
