The Wyoming Department of Health has issued recreational use advisories today, August 4th, for Boysen Reservoir and Ocean Lake here in Fremont County due to localized Harmful Cyanobacterial Bloom (HCB).
The HCB was found in the northeast sides of both bodies of water. Boysen Marina confirmed with County 10 that HCB is not affecting them and that the area is closer to the dam.
What is HCB?
HCBs are also referred to as harmful algal blooms (HABs) since cyanobacteria are commonly known as blue-green algae. The Department of Health issues advisories to inform the public that there may be health risks for people and animals in areas where HCBs occur.
What does ‘recreational use advisory’ mean?
Lakes and reservoirs under a recreational use advisory are not closed since HCBs may only be present in certain areas of the waterbody and conditions can change frequently. The advisory will remain in place until the bloom has fully dissipated.
If you encounter a potential HCB, the Wyoming Department of Health and Wyoming Livestock Board recommends the following:
- Avoid contact with water in the vicinity of the bloom, especially in areas where cyanobacteria are dense and form scums.
- 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 and contact a doctor or veterinarian.