Lake Powell water advisory

The National Park Service has detected the presence of cya­notoxins in Antelope Canyon in Lake Powell in concentrations that are at the high end of safe exposure levels. Cyanotoxins are pro­duced by certain types of algae blooms and can be harmful to humans and animals.

The National Park Service recommends boaters to use caution and avoid unneces­sary exposure to res­ervoir water if fishing, boating, or recreating in this area of Lake Powell. Other areas of Lake Powell may also contain these toxins, please use caution. Recreation on the lake remains open through­out Glen Canyon Na­tional Recreation Area.

Algal blooms can oc­cur for a variety of rea­sons. Warm, still water is the perfect breeding ground for cyanobacte­ria and the addition of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus that enter the lake from outside sources, en­courage the growth of algae and bacteria. Harmful algae, also known as blue-green algae, is common and natural to our waters and found throughout Arizona and Utah. The algae can multiply rap­idly to form blooms and scums, particularly in areas of shallow, warm water.

Some algae may be harmless, but please follow the following guidelines on how to stay safe during Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs.) Don’t swim in wa­ter that has an algal bloom.

• Don’t boat, water ski, or jet-ski on scummy water. These activities can cause toxins to become airborne, increasing the likelihood you will inhale them.

• Clean harvested fish in treated water. As always, remember to clean, drain, and dry all boats and fishing gear.

• Keep children away from scum in the water or along the shore.

• Keep pets or livestock from swimming or drinking from scummy waters.

• Always take a shower after coming into con­tact with any surface water whether or not an algal bloom ap­pears to be present. Rinse/wash animals immediately if they swim in scummy water and don’t let them lick their fur.

• Contact medical care (doctor or veterinari­an) if, after exposure to the water, individuals or pets exhibit nausea, vomiting, digestive distress, breathing problems, seizure, or unexplained illness.

Water quality staff are sampling and mon­itoring the situation. Watch our website, nps.gov/glca or follow on our social media sites.