Blue-Green Algae What To Do When Your Lake is Affected Summary of - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Picture Courtesy of MOECC Blue-Green Algae What To Do When Your Lake is Affected Summary of the 2015 Season Paula Stewart and Teresa Clow

Responding to Blue -Green Algae Incidents  In 2015 the Health Unit and area Lake Associations launched a collaborative effort on blue green algae  Information for lakes users on potential health risks by blue- green algae blooms and how to respond.  Notification of blooms in a timely manner to lake users.  April 2015 presentation to Lake Networking Group by various agencies involved with blue-green algae  Lake Networking Group compiled an extensive list of Lake Associations and their contacts and email addresses and provided to it to the health unit.  Resources such as fact sheets and a PowerPoint presentation were made available to Lake Associations

Response to Reports of Suspected Blue Green Algae  Resident reports of blue-green algae were directed to Spills Action Centre (SAC)  SAC notified the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) area Environmental Officer  Environmental Officer reviewed photos if provided or and/or conduct site visit to confirm and collect samples  Health Unit notified by MOECC, and where visual confirmation was made, a notice was sent out to the contacts on the Lake Association list for distribution  Copy of notice was also sent to township, and conservation authority as an FYI

Sample Results  When sample results were provided to the Health Unit, another notice was sent to the same groups indicating if toxin was present or not and at what levels  All notices were posted on the Health Unit website

Sample Notice to Lake Associations

Sample Notices re Toxin Results

Getting the Message Out This summer a student distributed this poster to: • local marinas • posted it at boat launches To educate visitors to our lakes regarding blue-green algae A table top version of blue-green algae display is available to lake associations upon request

Focus of Messaging Key Messages Include:  Being able to recognize blue-green algae blooms and taking a cautionary approach rather than waiting for results of testing  Knowing what precautions need to be taken regarding drinking water, swimming and recreational activities, and fishing  Assessing conditions in their area of the lake to determine when they can resume their activities

Reports of Blue-Green Algae Blooms  The health unit responded to 16 reports of blue-green algae  Highest number of reports in recent years  Earliest report received in June, reports continued into late September, early Ocober. Number of Number Number Number Reported Confirmed as Confirmed as Containing Sightings BGA not BGA Toxins 16 7 9 3

What Our Residents Shared With Us

In Conclusion  The Health Unit would like to express their sincere thanks to Lake Association partners for all their assistance in getting the message out.  We hope to continue to work together and improve the system.  We are open to your suggestions, so please feel free to put forth ideas for our consideration.

Know the Plant Know the sap Know what to do

Know the plant: wild parsnip  Found in disturbed areas  Most commonly fund in railway embankments, roadsides, trials, shorelines, ditches, forest clearings, quarries  Ontario – along fence rows, edge of agricultural fields, water courses and drainage areas  Can invade agricultural fields

Know the plant: wild parsnip  Grows for two years then flowers and produces a fruit containing thousands of seeds then dies  Seeds mature by mid-summer  Remain attached to dead stock with seed dispersal between August and November

Know the plant: wild parsnip  Seeds can remain in soil for 5 years.  Reproduce by seeds, majority germinate in the spring, plants found grow year after year to same place  Animals may bring sap from plant into contact with people.

Know the sap  Sap on stem, leaves and flowers contains furocoumarins.  Furocoumarins are absorbed by skin  Sap most potent when plant is in flower  Moisture form perspiration speeds absorption

Know the sap  Sunlight (UV radiation) interacts with furocoumarins under skin  Purplish skin discolouration  Red painful rash within one day  Inflammation and blisters to Photo credit: Andrew Link, Winona Daily News, 2013 skin within 3 days  Risk of long lasting scars, temporary or permanent blindness

Know What to Do  If skin is exposed to sap wash area with soap and water as soon as possible  Protect area from sun exposure  Watch for symptoms  Cover area with a cool wet cloth and keep covered when in sun.  Seek medical care if blisters form, do not burst them

Know What to Do Control of wild parsnip  Mowing over repeated seasons (May – June)  Removal by shovel  Gloves, pants and long sleeve shirt and in evening  Tarping  Chemical control From: Wild Parsnip – Best Management Practices in Ontario (Ontario Invasive Plant Council)

Know What to Do

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