Briefs

• Advisory lifted for Hayden Lake's Sportsman Park

HAYDEN LAKE - The health advisory for Hayden Lake's Sportsman Park area has been lifted.

Due to the presence of high-concentrations of blue-green algae that can produce toxins harmful to people and animals, the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality and Panhandle Health District issued the advisory late last week.

DEQ officials have been monitoring that part of the lake since the advisory and have now confirmed the concentration of blue-green algae at the very northeastern end of the lake is no longer a concern.

Hayden Lake is safe again for swimming and other water-contact activities, and domestic water supply use with the appropriate water treatment technology, the agencies said.

• Potlatch imposes campfire burn ban on its sites

Potlatch Corporation on Wednesday announced effective immediately that no campfires or open burning are allowed on its property in Idaho due to extreme fire danger in the region.

The burning ban on Potlatch's Idaho properties will remain in effect until conditions improve.

A burn ban also remains in effect for the rest of Kootenai County, but campfires/warming fires are permitted without obtaining a permit as long as people take necessary precautions, said Shane O'Shea of the Idaho Department of Lands.