Community reacts to toxic algae found in 2 Montgomery County lakes

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. ( DC News Now ) — Yellow signs are posted all around Lake Needwood and Lake Frank cautioning people that high levels of blue-green algae have been found in the water. Officials are asking visitors to avoid contact with the water because the consequences could be severe.

Mark and Elisa visited Lake Needwood on Friday. They said it was a spur-of-the-moment decision.

“I guess I’ve been coming here since 2014,” Elisa said, “kayaking as exercise.”

They noticed the yellow warning sign, but that didn’t deter them from heading out on the water.

“Almost every year that sign goes up,” Elisa said.

Mark said they’ll be extra careful in the water.

“We’ll probably make a point not to splash either one of us,” he said.

Montgomery Parks and Maryland State Health Department officials said blue-green algae can produce toxins when they grow in large amounts. Those toxins could harm people or animals if they ingest too much.

Elisa said a few years ago, she took in lake water while an advisory was in place.

“My kayak flipped, and I swallowed a big gulp of water. I was still alive the next day. I was fine,” she said.

Contact with the water can cause trouble, too, which is among the concerns Ben Palker has for people who don’t look after themselves.

“If the cyanobacteria is poisonous, it has toxins, and the fish are eating that, and then people try to eat the fish, that could be really harmful. Or if you get cut in the water, and then it gets into your skin, maybe that could cause something,” Palker said.

John Cottet hopes those who decide to be on the water this weekend will do so as safely as possible.

“Be careful,” he said. “I guess if they are in the water, take a shower and protect themselves.”

Officials are evaluating samples from both lakes. The yellow warning signs will be removed when they feel there’s no potential health threat.

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