Blue-Green Algae Found Near Granite Springs Reservoir

The Wyoming Department of Health has issued a recreational use advisory because of a cyanobacterial bloom in the Causeway at the City of Cheyenne BOPU Granite Springs Reservoir.

The Causeway is an area west of the Granite Springs Reservoir where Middle Crow Creek flows toward the reservoir. The Causeway is separated from the main reservoir by a road.

That's according to a BOPU News release.

The reservoir is 30 miles west of Cheyenne in Curt Gowdy State Park. So far cyanobacteria have not been found in the reservoir itself.

According to the release, ''Harmful cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, can form harmful blooms in slow-moving water during the late summer when water temperatures are warmer. These blooms are considered harmful because they can produce toxins and other irritants that pose a risk to humans, pets, livestock and wildlife.''

What Precautions Should People Take?

According to the release, people should take the following precautions:

• Avoid contact with water in the vicinity of the bloom, especially in areas where cyanobacteria are dense and form scum.
• 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.

For more information about blue-green algae, please visit www.wyohcbs.org.

The reservoir provides drinking water for the City of Cheyenne, and rhe BOPU will be keeping an eye on the quatitiy of the city's water in light of the discovery.