WEBVTT

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you've probably heard about blue green

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algae warnings in Corps of Engineers

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lakes recently . Perhaps you're

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wondering what blue green algae is ,

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what causes it and what to do if you

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encounter it at a core lake . Blue

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green algae is a natural organism that

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lives in the lakes and the rivers .

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It's always there . It feeds off

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nutrient loads heat , sunlight , those

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things that's prevalent in the

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summertime . When algal blooms occur ,

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big can produce a toxin called Micro

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Sistine . In large enough quantities ,

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Micro Sistine can cause severe

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reactions to humans and animals . There

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is a potential danger . Anytime you see

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blue green algae , the typical Peagreen

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film on the lake , there's always that

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risk of having toxin levels in the

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water . The only way to know for sure

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there is toxins in the water is to have

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it tested . The Corps of Engineers

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samples the lake , uh , typically once

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a month during the summer months , and

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we take those results after we get them

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back from the lab and we give those two

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states the screen on top stop . Do not

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swim in it . Not to let your past

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senator Children in because there is

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that risk but to know if there's actual

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toxins in the water , you won't know

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what does tested . Keep in mind just

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because blue green algae occurs in one

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spot on the lake , that doesn't mean it

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is everywhere . Blue green algae blooms

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are typically fairly localized events

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within larger reservoirs . And for

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visitors , that's going to mean

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monitoring lake conditions and avoiding

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active blooms by utilizing other areas

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of the lake . Understand that all

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activities involve some level of risk .

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Knowing those risks can help you

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respond accordingly and stay safe . If

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somebody sees an algae bloom that they

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think might be blue green algae , we

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would advise them to contact the local

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lake office so we can test and monitor

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the situation and buys the public to

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avoid those areas by utilizing other

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areas of the lake . Each state has its

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own program for monitoring blue green

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algae levels . Check with your state's

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website for more information about blue

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green algae , stay informed and stay

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safe