Blue-green algae bloom spotted in Pigeon Lake, despite community’s best efforts

Alberta Health Services issued an advisory Friday, saying a blue-green algae bloom had been found in areas of Pigeon Lake.

Officials said people should avoid all contact with the algae blooms, avoid swimming or wading in areas where the blooms are visible and keep their pets away from the algae. People can swim in areas of Pigeon Lake where blue-green algae is not visible.

READ MORE: ‘I can’t stand it’: Pigeon Lake residents concerned about stench coming from water

At the end of July, residents were celebrating this season’s clear water.

The lake usually sees huge blooms of blue-green algae, but Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) said the spring rain or cooler summer temperatures could have played a role in the cleaner conditions.

“One doesn’t want to jinx things by saying it – that the water is really, really good this year,” Ma-Me-O Beach Mayor Don Fleming said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "One doesn't want to jinx things by saying it - that the water is really, really good this year," Ma-Me-O Beach Mayor Don Fleming said.

READ MORE: Clear water at Pigeon Lake may have spring rain, cool temperatures to thank 

The Pigeon Lake Renewal League started last August and has been trying to mobilize residents to keep the water in Pigeon Lake clean.

“Citizen involvement – they’re sensitive to the dumping of sewer and other water. They’re sensitive to not using fertilizer. They’re beginning to create rain gardens. They’re beginning to eliminate lawns in favour of flora,” league secretary Ron Lajeunesse said.

The league has been involved with beach clean-up and supports the installation of a sewer system in the area of Pigeon Lake.

The Pigeon Lake Watershed Association also installed three water gardens around the lake to help with cleaning runoff before it hits the lake.

The association also encourages using rain barrels, reducing water use and trying to keep as many pollutants out of the lake as possible.

“It didn’t go green overnight,” member Bonny Mieske said. “It’s not going to change overnight. We all have to work at it constantly.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It didn't go green overnight," member Bonny Mieske said. "It's not going to change overnight. We all have to work at it constantly."

READ MORE: Beware of toxic blue-green algae in Pigeon Lake

Arin MacFarlane Dyer, an integrated resource planner with AEP, said bacteria – like blue-green algae – grows when temperatures increase. She expected an algae bloom – which she said is naturally occurring – would develop at the lake later in the summer.

However, MacFarlane Dyer said residents can do their part to help reduce algae growth.

“All the stewards of Pigeon Lake can be part of the solution for harmful algae blooms. It’s possible that cumulatively, so everyone taking multiple actions over time, can improve water quality,” she said.

For a complete list of current blue green algae advisories, click on this link.

With files from Julia Wong, Global News