Beach at Conestogo Lake Conservation Area closed for rest of the season

Blue-green algae is pictured in this undated image.

The beach at Conestogo Lake Conservation Area has closed for the rest of the season due to blue-green algae concerns.

The Grand River Conservation Authority began working with the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health Unit after a possible blue-green algae bloom was spotted at the beach.

The health unit recommended closing the beach to observe the bloom.

However, the conservation authority decided to keep the beach closed for the rest of season. Aside from the potentially toxic algae, water levels in the Conestogo Lake reservoir have been sitting lower than what is considered normal for this time of year due to a rehabilitation project at the Conestogo Dam. The remaining water in the reservoir is slowly being drained to allow contractors to repair the dam.

The west boat launch is scheduled to be out of service starting on Saturday, and the gradually lowering water levels will also force the closure of the second boat launch in the coming weeks.

“The low water levels in the reservoir in combination with warm air temperatures create the perfect conditions for algae to grow and bloom in large bodies of water,” Cameron Irvine, Grand River Conservation Authority’s supervisor of water quality, said in a news release.

The beach is now closed and swimming is not recommended.

What is blue-green algae?

Blue-green algae blooms are types of bacteria known as cyanobacteria. They are microscopic plant-like organism that occur naturally in lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and other bodies of water.

The algae thrives in water that is shallow, slow moving and warm.

When the algal blooms first start to grow the water may have a noticeable green or brown scum along the surface and the water may look green or like bluish-green pea soup.

Once the blooms are fully formed, they may look like spilled paint along the shoreline.

The algae often smells like fresh cut grass at first, while older blooms may give off an odour like rotting garbage.

Some types of blue-green algae produce cyanotoxins, which can be harmful to humans and animals.

Symptoms may include itchy, irritated eyes and skin from direct contact (such as swimming) and flu-like symptoms such as headache, fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting if large quantities of the toxins are swallowed.

The GRCA urges residents to keep children and pets away from the algae blooms and avoid all contact with the substance. Fish from the impacted bodies of water should not be eaten and the water should not be used for any purpose, including drinking.