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Look before you leap!
Two lakes in Nebraska are not recommended for swimmers this holiday weekend, including popular Johnson Lake in central Nebraska.
In addition, 14 Iowa lakes, including three in southwest Iowa, fell victim to excessive levels of bacteria while the Nebraska lakes are suffering from toxic algae, both of which can lead to illness or skin infections.
The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality routinely tests bacteria and toxic algae levels in the state’s lakes. This week, both Johnson Lake in Gosper County and Swan Creek Lake in Saline County were shown to have dangerous levels of toxic algae, which can lead to skin rashes, lesions, blisters or mouth and nose ulcers. Swallowing the water is particularly dangerous and can cause headaches, nausea and pain. Severe cases can lead to death, although that is rare, according to the Department of Environmental Quality.
Two Nebraska lakes also have high levels of bacteria, but the state doesn’t make recommendations on whether swimmers should stay away from those lakes — Lake North in Platte County and Louisville Lake in Cass County.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources advised against swimming in 14 lakes.
“We’re disappointed,” said Russell Field of Viking Lake State Park near Stanton, Iowa. “It’s not a death sentence, but it’s not good.”
Lake of Three Fires, near Bedford, Iowa, and Prairie Rose Lake, near Harlan, also tested with high levels of bacteria.
Viking Lake, a popular swimming destination for southwest Iowans, had a low level of bacteria this week. But, over the month of June, its levels have been high, due in large part to recent rainfall. The lake’s bacteria level needs to test low more consistently for state officials to remove the designation, said Jason McCurdy, who coordinates the beach monitoring program for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
High bacteria can lead to gastrointestinal problems, such as cramping, diarrhea or vomiting, as well as rashes and other skin conditions. Young children, older adults and anyone with a compromised immune system is more vulnerable to illness caused by the bacteria.
For Field, who works at Viking Lake, high bacteria levels are a constant frustration for park workers. They do what they can to keep bacteria levels low by “daily and religiously” picking up after the wild Canada goose flock that hangs around the lake. But, Field said, they can’t control the runoff from agricultural fields that is washed into the lake when it rains.
Yellow signs posted at the lakes indicate a high bacteria reading, but that hasn’t dissuaded Viking Lake swimmers, Field said. Both the lake and the camp are busy, and he doesn’t expect that to change over the weekend.
“We take it seriously,” Field said. “But the impact is not as significant as you might imagine.”
Contact the writer:
444-1310, elizabeth.ahlin@owh.com
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