Blue green algae spotted in Portage County

PORTAGE COUNTY — Cyanobacteria, blue green algae, has been spotted at Mead Park, Bukolt Park, and Lake DuBay.
Blue green algae blooms often appear as a green tint in a body of water. Blue green algae can be very harmful to humans and pets. Health risks include severe gastrointestinal illness, skin and eye irritation, and liver or neurological damage.
The Portage County Division of Public Health recommends not swimming, wading, or boating through blooms, not eating fish from water with blooms, don’t let pets drink water experiencing a bloom, don’t let pets eat cyanobaterial scum or lick it off their fur, and wash yourself and your pet shortly after swimming.
The harmful algae thrives in warm environments, especially when water becomes stagnant.