New Harmful Cyanobacterial Bloom (HCB) Recreational Use Advisories

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New Harmful Cyanobacterial Bloom (HCB) Recreational Use Advisories

A harmful cyanobacterial bloom (HCB) recreational use Toxin Advisory has been issued for Boysen Reservoir, Fremont Bay Shelter and Ramp and Boysen Reservoir, Sandy Hills CampgroundThe Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) works cooperatively with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality to issue recreational use advisories when cyanobacterial cell densities or cyanotoxin concentrations pose a risk to people engaging in swimming or similar water contact activities in areas where cyanobacterial blooms occur. HCBs may also pose a health risk to animals. The WDH is working directly with resource management agencies to ensure signs are posted at the reservoir. Additional details regarding advisories and other HCB resources can be found at WyoHCBs.org

Bloom advisories are issued when a HCB is present and cyanotoxins may be present. Toxin advisories are issued when cyanotoxins exceed recreational thresholds. Waterbodies under an advisory are not closed since HCBs may only be present in certain areas and conditions can change frequently. Advisories will remain in place until blooms have fully dissipated and cyanotoxin concentrations are below recreational use thresholds identified in Wyoming's HCB Action Plan

If you encounter a potential HCB, the Wyoming Department of Health and the Wyoming Livestock Board recommend the following:

  • Avoid contact with water in the vicinity of the bloom, especially in areas where cyanobacteria are dense and form scums.
  • Do not ingest water from the bloom. Boiling, filtration and/or other treatments will not remove toxins.
  • Rinse fish with clean water and eat only the fillet portion.
  • Avoid water spray from the bloom.
  • Do not allow pets or livestock to drink water near the bloom, eat bloom material, or lick fur after contact.
  • If people, pets, or livestock come into contact with a bloom, rinse off with clean water as soon as possible and contact a doctor or veterinarian.

Questions about health effects and recreational use advisories can be directed to Courtney Tillman, Surveillance Epidemiologist, Wyoming Department of Health, at courtney.tillman@wyo.gov or (307) 777-5522. Questions regarding cyanobacteria sampling can be directed to Chloe Schaub, Natural Resource Analyst, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, at chloe.schaub@wyo.gov or (307) 777-2073.

Current HCB Recreational Use Advisories*

Waterbody Name Observation or Sampling Location(s)    Advisory Type   Date Issued
Boysen Reservoir Brannon Boat Ramp, Marina Campground, Sand Mesa Campground Toxin 07/19/2024
Boysen Reservoir Brannon Campground, Tamarask Campground Toxin 08/15/2024
Boysen Reservoir Fremont Bay Shelter and Ramp, Sandy Hills Campground Toxin 09/12/2024
Brooks Lake Middle of Lake Bloom 08/06/2024
Brooks Lake Lodge Pond Dock Bloom 08/22/2024
Diamond Lake (Bosler Reservoir) Northwest Access Bloom 07/26/2024
Flaming Gorge Firehole Beach Bloom 09/05/2024
Fontenelle Reservoir Fontenelle Creek Campground Bloom 08/06/2024
Glendo Reservoir Cluster Cove Bloom 08/16/2024
Goshen Hole Reservoir NW Campground Bloom 08/22/2024
High Savery Reservoir Dam, Boat Ramp, South Shore Bloom 07/03/2024
Lake McKenzie Dog Park Shore Toxin 08/15/2024
Leazenby Lake South Access Toxin 07/22/2024
Meeboer Lake Boat Ramp Bloom 08/06/2024
Meeks Lake Shore Bloom 08/16/2024
Miller Lake Dam Bloom 07/10/2024
Ocean Lake Long Point Ramp Toxin 08/15/2024
Rainbow Lake Shore Bloom 07/26/2024
Saratoga Lake East Shore Bloom 07/19/2024
Scab Creek Pond Scab Creek Pond Campground Bloom 08/29/2024
Scouts Pond North Shore    
Seminoe Reservoir North Red Hills Ramp Toxin 07/23/2024
Sloan Lake South Beach Bloom 08/22/2024
Upper Brooks Lake Northeast Cove Bloom 08/22/2024
V Lake West Shore Bloom 08/16/2024
Virgin Lake Southeast Shore Bloom 08/22/2024
West Granite Springs Reservoir West Causeway Bloom 08/13/2024
Wind River Upper Campground Toxin 08/15/2024
       

*There may be additional waterbodies with HCBs that WDH and WDEQ are not aware of. Please report potential blooms to WDEQ and HCB-related illnesses to WDH.