Algae issues persist for Emporia State’s King Lake.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has the lake in a blue-green algae warning for the second straight week after the lake went into watch status in mid-June.
Harmful algal blooms, or HABs, may look like foam, scum or paint floating on the water — and unlike the official name, blue-green algae isn’t always a blue-green color. KDHE says it can be colored blue, bright green, red or even brown.
When bodies of water are in a warning, lake water is not safe to drink for people, pets or livestock. In fact, water contact should be avoided because even inhaling the spray or aerosols near the water can be harmful. Fish may be eaten from the lake, but only if the fillet portion is thoroughly rinsed with clean water; all other parts of the fish need to be thrown out. Also, pets should not eat dried algae under any circumstances.
