Hillside Beach now clear of soupy green algae, province says

The province says Hillside Beach is free and clear of algae blooms that turned water and beaches into a soupy green mess last weekend.

• Province testing algae-clogged waters at Hillside Beach

Nicole Armstrong, the director of the province'sWater Science and Management Branch, said crewstestedthe area twice this weekfor the presence of algal toxins after complaints from beach-goers.

Those complaints prompted theprovince toadvisepeople to stay away from Hillside Beach as aprecaution.

Microcystin, which is sometimes found in blue-green algae blooms,can pose a health risk to humans and animals when concentrated at high levels.

Samples revealed toxin levels were well below the acceptable level, Armstrong said, adding that samples weretaken at18 other beaches on the west and east side of Lake Winnipeg as a precaution.

"We had samplers out at the beaches on Lake Winnipeg a couple of times this week and we haven't seen any other algae blooms on Lake Winnipeg, so that is good news," said Armstrong.

"But blooms can form quickly and these are really ideal conditions with warm temperatures, both for the air and the water."

Those warmconditions have led to algae formations in several other Manitoba lakes and streams, according to 65-year-old Dauphin residentBrianNeill.

Neill, the owner of White Pelican Kayak Tours, recently cut shortan 1,100 kilometre row-boat tour of sixlakes and six streams.

He made it about halfway with his black lab, Sam, in tow but stopped,in part, due to concerns he had about Sam coming into contact with toxic algae.

"The blue-green algae was starting to set up on the lakes. Logistically, it was a good time to make a decision to go on or get out at the Narrows," he said.

Swimmers can get the latest information on the state ofbeaches on the province's website.