Area lakes deemed health concerns

Algae blooms can occasionally make areas such at Harry Strunk Lake (Medicine Creek Reservoir), shown here, unsafe to swim in. The Nebraska Dep. of Environment and Energy has also found Swanson Reservoir unsafe for recreational activities as of today, June 2, 2023. Testing will continue weekly.

Shary Skiles/McCook Gazette

LINCOLN, Neb. - After recent water sampling, the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE) has deemed several area lakes, including Pawnee Lake - East Beach, Bader Memorial Lake No. 6, Harry Strunk Lake (Medicine Creek Reservoir), and Swanson Reservoir, as unsafe for recreational activities. This decision comes as the NDEE identified alarming levels of Microcystin and E. coli in the water, posing potential health risks to visitors and wildlife.

The NECC website says that samples of 50 public recreational lakes are collected every week, and results are typically posted on Fridays. They test for Microcystin, which is associated with harmful algal blooms (HABs), as well as E. coli bacteria.

Results of samples collected on May 30 showed that Pawnee Lake’s east beach was in an HAB Health Alert, and three lakes contained high levels of E. coli bacteria, including Bader Memorial Lake No. 6, Harry Strunk Lake (Medicine Creek Reservoir), and Swanson Reservoir.

The east beach area of Pawnee Lake, located approximately four miles west of Lincoln, was found to contain 8.5 parts-per-billion (ppb) of the toxin Microcystin, above the 8 ppb or less recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Microcystin is a toxin produced by certain species of blue-green algae which thrive in warm, stagnant waters. Exposure to this toxin can lead to various health issues, including skin rashes, respiratory problems, and gastrointestinal symptoms.

When a beach is on Health Alert, the NDEE recommends that no contact with the water take place.

The same samples showed that the three aforementioned lakes had excessive amounts of E. coli bacteria, which can also pose health concerns. Elevated levels of E. coli bacteria indicate the presence of fecal matter in the water, which can cause severe illnesses such as diarrhea, vomiting, and infections. Samples above 235 colonies per 100 ml of water are considered high.

Bader Memorial Lake No. 6 was found to contain 299 colonies, while Harry Strunk Lake was measured with 326, and Swanson Reservoir at 517 colonies.

While these lakes aren’t in an official health alert, the NDEE advises caution when coming in contact with the water:

“Incidental ingestion of water from lakes that have recently tested high significantly increases the chance of an illness associated with ingestion of E. coli bacteria.”

These lakes will continue testing weekly, and Pawnee Lake will remain in an HAB Health Alert until a new sample tests below 8 ppb. If you experience health symptoms, notify your physician, and report it to the Nebraska Regional Poison Center at 800-222-1222 for more information.