DHD#10 confirms harmful algae blooms on Bass and Hamlin Lakes

District Health Department #10 (DHD#10) in cooperation with Michigan Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) have confirmed harmful algae blooms on both Bass Lake and Hamlin Lake in Mason County.

HABs have been confirmed at both Bass Lake (August 12, 2024) and Hamlin Lake (August 13, 2024) in Mason County. Algae blooms can form when there are high nutrient levels within bodies of water along with warm temperatures. Signage has been posted at Bass Lake near two different boat launches, and no public access points were available near the HAB in Hamlin Lake.

Below are some steps to take when HABs have been detected in waterways:

• Avoid direct contact with waterways that appear to be scummy or have a green shade to them
• Do not drink untreated surface water
• Obey posted signage for public health advisories and/or beach closings
• Limit or avoid eating fish from algal bloom impacted areas
• Always follow the Eat Safe Fish waterbody-specific guidelines or Statewide Safe Fish guidelines, even if a HAB has not been detected, by visiting https://www.michigan.gov/eatsafefish

Contact with algae blooms can cause minor illness in humans but can be fatal to pets. Therefore, it is also recommended that people keep their pets out of the water that shows any signs of algae blooms.People and pets can experience the following symptoms after exposure to algae blooms:

• Rash, hives, or skin blisters at the contact site
• Runny eyes and/or nose, sore throat, asthma-like symptoms, or allergic reactions
• Diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, weakness, tingly fingers, numbness, dizziness, difficulty breathing, or even death resulting from ingesting contaminated water

If you think that you or your pet have been exposed to algae blooms, take the following precautions:

• Immediately remove yourself and/or your pet from the area
• Take a shower and thoroughly rinse off pets with clean, fresh water if they swam in an area with algae blooms to avoid potential toxic ingestion from licking between paws or affected areas
• Seek medical treatment for yourself and/or veterinary treatment for your pet as soon as possible if you think you or your pet may have been exposed to or ingested algal toxins

If you would like to learn more about algae blooms, the Department of Great Lakes and Energy has more information on what algae blooms are, where they are located, and frequently asked questions here: https://www.michigan.gov/egle/about/organization/water-resources/glwarm/harmful-algal-blooms .