Fernan Lake advisory issued

A health advisorywas issued on Tuesday for Fernan Lake by the Panhandle Health District and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.

Water samples confirmed the presence of blue-green algae species can produce potentially dangerous toxins. Precaution is advised. Children and pets are particularly susceptible.

The public is advised to avoid any activity that could lead to ingesting the lake water.

This bloom requires added precaution because it is applicable to open water in the lake where water is an uncharacteristic green color and where unsightly thick green mats are present along shorelines.

Drinking water from the lake may be dangerous if toxins are present; the toxins cannot be removed by boiling or filtering the water.

If people choose to eat fish from this area, it is recommended that you remove all fat, skin and organs before cooking since toxins are more likely to collect in those tissues.

Blue-green algae are naturally occurring, microscopic bacteria. Many species occur in Idaho surface waters and only some species release toxins under certain conditions.

The public will be advised when the concern no longer exists.

Often excess nutrients associated with algae blooms are caused by pollution from human activities. Water quality improvements can be expected to reduce future algae blooms so the IDEQ is working with residents and landowners to implement nutrient reduction projects.

For health questions, contact Panhandle Health District's Dick Martindale at 415-5212

For environmental questions, contact IDEQ's Kristin Larson at 769-1422.