Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality

09/26/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 09/27/2024 00:24

New Harmful Cyanobacterial Bloom (HCB) Recreational Use Advisories

New Harmful Cyanobacterial Bloom (HCB) Recreational Use Advisories

A harmful cyanobacterial bloom (HCB) recreational use Toxin Advisory has been issued for Saratoga Lake: West Central Beach. The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) works cooperatively with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality to issue recreational use advisories when cyanobacterial cell densities or cyanotoxin concentrations pose a risk to people engaging in swimming or similar water contact activities in areas where cyanobacterial blooms occur. HCBs may also pose a health risk to animals. The WDH is working directly with resource management agencies to ensure signs are posted at the reservoir. Additional details regarding advisories and other HCB resources can be found at WyoHCBs.org.

Bloom advisories are issued when a HCB is present and cyanotoxins may be present. Toxin advisories are issued when cyanotoxins exceed recreational thresholds. Waterbodies under an advisory are not closed since HCBs may only be present in certain areas and conditions can change frequently. Advisories will remain in place until blooms have fully dissipated and cyanotoxin concentrations are below recreational use thresholds identified in Wyoming's HCB Action Plan.

If you encounter a potential HCB, the Wyoming Department of Health and the Wyoming Livestock Board recommend the following:

  • Avoid contact with water in the vicinity of the bloom, especially in areas where cyanobacteria are dense and form scums.
  • Do not ingest water from the bloom. Boiling, filtration and/or other treatments will not remove toxins.
  • Rinse fish with clean water and eat only the fillet portion.
  • Avoid water spray from the bloom.
  • Do not allow pets or livestock to drink water near the bloom, eat bloom material, or lick fur after contact.
  • If people, pets, or livestock come into contact with a bloom, rinse off with clean water as soon as possible and contact a doctor or veterinarian.

Questions about health effects and recreational use advisories can be directed to Courtney Tillman, Surveillance Epidemiologist, Wyoming Department of Health, at [email protected] or (307) 777-5522. Questions regarding cyanobacteria sampling can be directed to Chloe Schaub, Natural Resource Analyst, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, at [email protected] or (307) 777-2073.

Current HCB Recreational Use Advisories*

Waterbody Name

Observation or Sampling Location(s)

Advisory Type

Date Issued

Big Sandy Reservoir

Dam

Bloom

09/24/2024

Boysen Reservoir

Brannon Boat Ramp, Marina Campground, Sand Mesa Campground

Toxin

07/19/2024

Boysen Reservoir

Brannon Campground, Tamarask Campground

Toxin

08/15/2024

Boysen Reservoir

North Swim Beach

Toxin

09/17/2024

Brooks Lake

Middle of Lake

Bloom

08/06/2024

Brooks Lake Lodge Pond

Dock

Bloom

08/22/2024

Diamond Lake (Bosler Reservoir)

Northwest Access

Bloom

07/26/2024

Flaming Gorge

Firehole Beach

Bloom

09/05/2024

Fontenelle Reservoir

Fontenelle Creek Campground

Bloom

08/06/2024

Glendo Reservoir

Cluster Cove

Bloom

08/16/2024

Goshen Hole Reservoir

NW Campground

Bloom

08/22/2024

High Savery Reservoir

Dam, Boat Ramp, South Shore

Bloom

07/03/2024

Keyhole Reservoir

Rocky Point

Toxin

09/17/2024

Lake McKenzie

Dog Park Shore

Toxin

08/15/2024

Leazenby Lake

South Access

Toxin

07/22/2024

Meeboer Lake

Boat Ramp

Bloom

08/06/2024

Meeks Lake

Shore

Bloom

08/16/2024

Miller Lake

Dam

Bloom

07/10/2024

Ocean Lake

Long Point Ramp

Toxin

08/15/2024

Rainbow Lake

Shore

Bloom

07/26/2024

Saratoga Lake

East Shore

Bloom

07/19/2024

Saratoga Lake

West Central Beach

Toxin

09/26/2024

Scab Creek Pond

Scab Creek Pond Campground

Bloom

08/29/2024

Scouts Pond

North Shore

Bloom

08/22/2024

Seminoe Reservoir

North Red Hills Ramp

Toxin

07/23/2024

Sloan Lake

South Beach

Bloom

08/22/2024

Twin Lakes 2

Shore

Bloom

09/26/2024

Upper Brooks Lake

Northeast Cove

Bloom

08/22/2024

V Lake

West Shore

Bloom

08/16/2024

Virgin Lake

Southeast Shore

Bloom

08/22/2024

Viva Naughton Reservoir

East Ramp

Bloom

09/24/2024

West Granite Springs Reservoir

West Causeway

Bloom

08/13/2024

Wind River

Below Dam

Toxin

09/17/2024

Wind River

Upper Campground

Toxin

08/15/2024

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