LANCASTER COUNTY – A lake near Nebraska’s capital city is under a health alert this week after toxic algae was identified there.
According to a Thursday release from Nebraska’s Department of Health and Human Services, the state has issued a health alert for Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB), also known as toxic blue-green algae, at Bluestem Lake, not far from Lincoln and Crete.
These alerts mean visitors to the lake should be extremely cautious and should limit or avoid performing any activities that involve prolonged exposure to, or the risk of swallowing, the water, especially for young people and animals. People can still use the public areas for camping, picnics, and other outdoor activities and recreational boating and fishing are permitted, but designated swimming beaches are likely to be closed while the alert is in effect…