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Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality

Wyoming Department of Health Issues New Harmful Cyanobacterial Bloom (HCB) Recreational Use Advisories

The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) has issued a harmful cyanobacterial bloom (HCB) recreational use Bloom Advisory for Upper Brooks Lake and Diamond Lake (Bosler Reservoir) based on data provided by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality. The WDH is working directly with resource management agencies to ensure that signs are posted at all waterbodies with advisories. Additional details regarding advisory status, including changes to the type of advisory, and other HCB resources can be found at WyoHCBs.org

The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) has issued a harmful cyanobacterial bloom (HCB) recreational use Toxin Advisory for Boysen Reservoir and Ocean Lake based on data provided by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality. The WDH is working directly with resource management agencies to ensure that signs are posted at all waterbodies with advisories. Additional details regarding advisory status, including changes to the type of advisory, and other HCB resources can be found at WyoHCBs.org

The WDH issues recreational use advisories when cyanobacterial cell densities or cyanotoxin concentrations pose a risk to people engaging in swimming or similar water contact activities in areas where cyanobacterial blooms occur. HCBs may also pose a health risk to animals. Bloom Advisories are issued when a HCB is present and toxins may be present. Toxin Advisories are issued when cyanotoxins exceed recreational thresholds. Waterbodies under an advisory are not closed since HCBs may only be present in certain areas and conditions can change frequently. Advisories will remain in place until blooms have fully dissipated and cyanotoxin concentrations are below recreational use thresholds identified in Wyoming's HCB Action Plan.

If you encounter a potential HCB, the Wyoming Department of Health and the Wyoming Livestock Board recommend the following:

  • Avoid contact with water in the vicinity of the bloom, especially in areas where cyanobacteria are dense and form scums.
  • Do not ingest water from the bloom. Boiling, filtration and/or other treatments will not remove toxins.
  • Rinse fish with clean water and eat only the fillet portion.
  • Avoid water spray from the bloom.
  • Do not allow pets or livestock to drink water near the bloom, eat bloom material, or lick fur after contact.
  • If people, pets, or livestock come into contact with a bloom, rinse off with clean water as soon as possible and contact a doctor or veterinarian.

Questions about health effects and recreational use advisories can be directed to Courtney Tillman, Surveillance Epidemiologist, Wyoming Department of Health, at courtney.tillman@wyo.gov or (307) 777-5522. Questions regarding cyanobacteria sampling can be directed to Kelsee Hurshman, Natural Resource Analyst, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, at kelsee.hurshman1@wyo.gov or (307) 777-2073.

Current HCB Recreational Use Advisories

Waterbody Name Observation or Sampling Location(s)    Advisory Type   Date Issued
Alcova Reservoir Oakie Beach, Sandy Beach Bloom 9/29/2021
Big Sandy Reservoir West Shore, Dam Area Bloom 7/28/2021
Boysen Reservoir Swim Beach, Tough Creek Camp Toxin 9/28/2021
Brooks Lake Boat Ramp Bloom 8/31/2021
Buffalo Bill Reservoir Bartlett Lane Bloom 8/19/2021
Diamond Lake (Bosler Reservoir) Northwest Access Bloom 10/4/2021
Eden Reservoir South Outlet Bloom 7/28/2021
Flaming Gorge Reservoir  Buckboard Marina, Firehole Beach Bloom 7/29/2021
Fontenelle Reservoir CyAN Satellite Imagery Bloom 8/19/2021
Glendo Reservoir Cluster Cove Campground Bloom 9/15/2021
West Granite Springs  West Causeway Bloom 7/29/2021
Kemmerer City Reservoir East Access Bloom 9/13/2021
Keyhole Reservoir Wind Creek, Rocky Point Toxin 9/3/2021
Leazenby Lake South Beach Toxin 9/3/2021
Ocean Lake Long Point, South Cove Toxin 9/28/2021
Pathfinder Reservoir Bishops Point Bloom 7/29/2021
Pelham Lake East Shore Bloom 8/31/2021
Rainbow Lake East Shore Bloom 8/31/2021
Saratoga Lake West Boat Ramp, West Beach Toxin 8/25/2021
Seminoe Reservoir Sand Mountain Bloom 8/30/2021
Sloans Lake South Beach Bloom 8/30/2021
Twin Buttes Lake South-central Ramp Bloom 9/29/2021
Upper Brooks Lake Shore Bloom 10/4/2021
Upper Jade Lake South Shore Bloom 8/31/2021
Viva Naughton Reservoir East Ramp Bloom 8/19/2021
Wheatland Reservoir #3 Dam Area Bloom 8/19/2021
Woodruff Narrows North Boat Ramp Toxin 9/13/2021




Harmful Cyanobacterial Bloom

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