A blue-green algae bloom is affecting Sturgeon Bay in the Township of the Archipelago.
The North Bay-Parry Sound District Health Unit says the bloom is in the North East corner of Sturgeon Bay between Bonnie Island and Sturgeon Bay Provincial Park.
Blue-green algae is better known as pondscum. It’s not technically an algae, but a bacteria.
Algae blooms occur naturally, but toxins produced by blue-green algae can be dangerous to people.
The health unit is asking people in the area to take a number of precautions. They’re asking anyone with a private water system to not use the water from the lake for drinking, cooking orbathing. They’re also asking people to stay out of the water while the bloom is in effect.
The health unit is unsure whether toxins will build in the fish, but advise anyone fishing in Sturgeon Bay to avoid eating liver, kidneys or any other fish organs.
Toxins can stay in the water for several weeks after the bloom has disappeared. That’s why health unit can’t confirm when water will be safe for use in private water system.