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What appears to be a blue-green algal bloom rests on the shore of Beaver Creek Reservoir where water has receded. Montana Department of Environmental quality has confirmed that algae on the reservoir apparently is of a species that can produce toxins, but whether it is producing toxins has not been confirmed. People are advised to stay away from the water, and keep their pets away, as long as the algae is present.
Hill County Health Department officials say a potentially harmful algal bloom has been confirmed at Beaver Creek Reservoir and people are advised to stay away from the water.
Public Health Director Kim Larson said the algal bloom was reported Aug. 24 and has been confirmed by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.
"It can cause health issues for warm-blooded animals," Larson said.
Harmful algal blooms have been confirmed by the DEQ in various parts of the state throughout the year, DEQ Manager of Water Quality Standards Myla Kelly said this morning.
Kelly said they have used photos of the bloom to identify that the algal bloom in Beaver Creek Reservoir is able to produce toxins, but there are no plans this season to test and positively confirm the presence of toxins.
People, pets and livestock are advised to stay out of the water until the bloom subsides, which is indicated by a lack of the blue-ish tint associated with the bloom.
"When you don't see it anymore, you're in good shape," Kelly said.
One of the biggest challenges to positively identifying if there are toxins is its inconsistency, Kelly said.
"It's like rolling the dice," she said."It's real spotty."
According to information provided by the Department of Public Health and Human Services, algal blooms can harm people, animals or the local ecosystem by producing toxins that can poison humans, fish, seabirds, aquatic animals, livestock, wildlife and household pets consume the water or swim in the water.
Algal blooms are naturally occurring photosynthetic bacteria found in many habitats including recreational waters. Toxic blue-green algae occur in Montana where there are standing bodies of water - lakes, reservoirs, stock ponds and roadside ditches - exposed to sunlight. They normally are not found in rivers, streams, springs, irrigation canals or wells.
"Both physical and chemical factors contribute to the formation and persistence of cyanobacterial blooms in freshwater systems, including light availability and water temperature, alteration of water flow, vertical mixing, pH changes, nutrient loading (both nitrogen and phosphorus) trace metals," information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says.
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