Bowen had a stick, a string and a paperclip and he was not going to let a blue-green algae advisory get in his way.
Within moments of dropping his line in the water at Lacombe Lake Park, the nearly-four-year-old had a shellfish or some such creature on the hook.
The Parkland County resident and his mom were among the dozen or people and dogs at the park at noon Tuesday, all of them forbidden from entering the water due to a cyanobacteria bloom.
A notice posted to social media by the City of St. Albert warns people and pets to stay out of the water, and that the gates to the dog beach are closed.
It also noted that the reddish substance on the surface of the water near the Rotary Park Boat Dock in the Sturgeon River is a non-toxic algal bloom.
There is no indication of when the advisory may be lifted.
“Some types of cyanobacteria that form blooms also produce toxins that can affect your health,” according to an Alberta Health Services website. “Most toxins break down within days, but they can stay in the water at low levels for weeks after a bloom disappears.
“Some blooms don't contain toxins, but you can't tell if a bloom is harmful or not from how it looks. If you see a bloom, assume it is toxic and take precautions.”
Contact with a toxic bloom can lead to a rash, sore throat, sore and red eyes, and hay-fever like symptoms. Ingesting water contaminated with blue-green algae can cause stomach irritation, diarrhea, weakness, a fever, nausea and vomiting, cramps, joint pain and even liver damage.
Pets are to be kept out of the water, and not to be allowed to eat trimmings from fish caught in algae-affected water. That shellfish Bowen caught should be thrown back, too.
Treat all cyanobacteria blooms with caution. Call Health Link at 811 if you drink or have been in contact with water that has a cyanobacteria bloom and are having symptoms.
You can also phone the City of St. Albert at 780-459-1500 or email [email protected] with any questions.
