GRDA: Grand Lake Waters Improved But Not Safe For Swimming

NewsOn6.com

UNDATED -- The Grand River Dam Authority is reporting that new water test results from Grand Lake show a significant decrease in levels of blue green algae, but still advise against having bodily contact with the lake.

The recent test samples were gathered in the Duck Creek and Horse Creek areas.

Although the tests showed improved, the GRDA is still recommending that the public avoid contact with Grand Lake waters. They also recommend being very careful while using fish cleaning stations and watering lawns with lake water.

"Test results can differ from day to day, and avoidance of bodily contact with Grand Lake waters is still in the public's best interest," Corporate Communications Director Justin Alberty said in a news release.

The Army Corps of Engineers is testing three of its 38 lakes for possible blue green algae.

Those lakes are Chouteau Bend at Fort Gibson Lake, Marion Lake in Kansas and Big Hill Lake in Kansas. They are also monitoring all of their lakes in the meantime.

Samples were taken Wednesday, and the Corps expects to learn the results on Friday.

Ross Adkins with the Corps says there is a bloom of some kind in the three lakes that are being tested, they just don't know if it's blue green algae or another type of algae. 

Skylar McElhaney with the Department of Environment Quality told the News On 6 that they have received a few reports - less than 10 - from people who thought they might have seen BGA on other Oklahoma lakes.

The DEQ will check out each report and test the waters if they find evidence of problems.

They have not conducted any testing based on the fewer than 10 reports they've gotten so far, McElhaney said.

Related Stories:
7/5/2011: Tulsa Man Develops Rash After Swimming In Grand Lake
7/1/2011: Algae Found At Grand Lake A Powerful Poison
7/1/2011: GRDA: Algae Bloom Like This One Has Never Happened In Oklahoma
7/1/2011: Many Businesses, Lake Goers Say Fun Will Go On At Grand Lake
7/1/2011 GRDA: Public Advised To Stay Out Of Grand Lake Waters
6/30/2011 GRDA Board Calls Emergency Meeting Over Blue Green Algae In Grand Lake
6/29/2011 More Blue Green Algae Found In Grand Lake
6/27/2011 GRDA Issues Blue Green Algae Warning On Grand Lake