The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) reminds the public to remain vigilant when recreating on lakes around the state as harmful algal blooms (HAB) can develop rapidly and without notice during the warm summer months.
“HABs can be harmful to people, pets, and livestock so remember, WHEN IN DOUBT, STAY OUT,” said DANR Secretary Hunter Roberts.
HABs typically occur during warm summer months (July, August, September) in nutrient enriched lakes and ponds, although they can occur earlier or later in the year depending on the conditions. In South Dakota, HABs are usually produced by blue-green algae, a primitive photosynthetic alga also known as cyanobacteria. Blue-green algae produce toxins that can be harmful to people (especially children), pets, and livestock. Be cautious when recreating during the warm summer months and refrain from letting your pets drink lake water.
DANR and its partners collect toxin samples at lakes throughout the state and sample results are posted to an interactive web map found at:
https://sdbit.maps.arcgis.com/
The map shows toxin concentration levels at specific times and locations. The results should not be used to determine if waters are safe to use at any given time.
For more information on HABs, visit DANR’s website at: https://danr.sd.gov/
If you have questions about HABs and what to do if you encounter one, please contact Joshua Strobel at 1-800-438-3367 or [email protected].
