Cyanobacterial Bloom Advisory Issued For Granite Reservoir

The Wyoming Department of Health has issued a harmful cyanobacteria advisory for the West Causeway at the City of Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities [BOPU) Granite Springs Reservoir.

That's according to a BOPU news release.

Cyanobacteria is also known as blue-green algae. According to the release, cyanobacteria ''can form harmful blooms in slow-moving water during the late summer when water temperatures are warmer. These blooms are considered harmful because they can produce toxins and other irritants that pose a risk to humans, pets, livestock and wildlife''

BOPU lab personnel will continue to monitor Cheyenne's drinking water to make sure it is safe.

It's important to note that the blue-green algae has not been found in the reservoir itself, but only on the causeway.

The causeway is separated from the reservoir by a road.

Precautions To Protect People and Pets

To protect recreationalists and pets from exposure to the toxins the bloom may produce, the BOPU is asking to follow these recommendations:

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