MENASHA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Blue-green algae is forming, and health officials in Oshkosh have declared a water quality advisory on Lake Winnebago.
The clumps of bacteria can be harmful to people and toxic to pets.
In the shallow backwaters of Lake Winnebago, blue-green algae is a growing problem.
“It comes back to here. This whole thing is all mat. This is all together, this entire area,” said Todd Drew, Menasha City Environmental Health Sanitarian.
Drew says farm runoff and residential fertilizer runoff combine with the summer heat, to cause the algae to bloom.
“Some of them do have the ability to produce a toxin, and it’s the toxin which causes all the problems. You’ll have some digestive issues, some central nervous system problems. In the case of pets, if they consume it, enough of it, it can be fatal,” he said.
At Jefferson Park, water quality advisory signs are posted.
Out on the lake, fishermen say the water is weedy.
“They’re probably the size of golf balls, that they’re clumping up. I don’t know if they’re going to eventually get larger clumps out there. But they’re pretty green out there,” said Dan Krebsbach, Appleton.
“It’s far less likely to run into a mat that looks like that out in the lake. However, it would certainly be a good idea for anyone doing water skiing or any of these types of things, make sure you’re showering when you’re done,” said Drew.
And across the river at Smith Park, city leaders say they’re being proactive.
They’ve installed an aerator in a back channel, churning up the water, trying to keep the blue-green algae away.
“It’s something to be conscious of. I wouldn’t necessarily say you would have to completely stop all your water activities, just be conscious of the fact that it’s there,” said Drew.
“It’s just a common organism on the lake, and it’s an eventuality, every summer,” he said.
The alert is expected to last throughout the summer.
On the other side, health officials say due to the wet weather we’ve had, the algae blooms are actually less severe than usual.
