{"id":19113,"date":"2016-08-29T10:09:21","date_gmt":"2016-08-29T14:09:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/?p=19113"},"modified":"2016-08-29T10:09:21","modified_gmt":"2016-08-29T14:09:21","slug":"county-health-officials-ask-public-to-be-cautious-of-blue-green-algae-on-chautauqua-lake","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wrfalp.com\/county-health-officials-ask-public-to-be-cautious-of-blue-green-algae-on-chautauqua-lake\/","title":{"rendered":"County Health Officials Ask Public to Be Cautious of Blue Green Algae on Chautauqua Lake"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Algae<\/a>

Algae bloom on Chautauqua Lake in 2014, captured in this aerial photo by John McCredie.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County Health Officials are advising the public to be cautious when heading out on Chautauqua Lake.<\/p>\n

On Friday, the Chautauqua County Department of Health & Human Services<\/strong> (DHHS) sent out a media release telling residents and visitors to avoid going into the lake when algae is present.<\/p>\n

According to health officials, lake users should be aware that algal bloom conditions can change rapidly. They add that Blue-green algal blooms can be a problem because they can release a toxin, which at high levels is harmful to human and animal health if ingested.<\/p>\n

Blue-green algae is actually a type of cyanobacteria that can form thick mats on the water surface resembling paint, and ranges in color from gray to various shades of yellow, green, blue, or brown.<\/p>\n

Not all algal blooms are hazardous, but DHHS recommends taking precautions, including\u2026.<\/p>\n