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

What To Do When Your Lake is Affected

Summary of the 2015 Season Paula Stewart and Teresa Clow

Blue-Green Algae

Picture Courtesy of MOECC

 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

Responding to Blue -Green Algae Incidents

 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

Response to Reports of Suspected Blue Green Algae

 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 Results

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 Reported Sightings Number Confirmed as BGA Number Confirmed as not BGA Number Containing 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

 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 plant: wild parsnip

 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

skin within 3 days

 Risk of long lasting scars,

temporary or permanent blindness

Know the sap

Photo credit: Andrew Link, Winona Daily News, 2013

 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

Know What to Do

@LGLbeaches – June – Sept @areyousafe

1-800 800-660 660-5853 5853

Thank You