The campus lake at Southern Illinois University Carbondale remains temporarily closed due to the presence of toxic blue-green algae.
Kevin Bame is SIUC's Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance. He says the lake is still testing positive for blue-green algae. Bame says the university cannot predict how long the lake will be closed. He says it's a waiting game at this point and the algae will dissipate as temperatures cool.
Last week, Bame said a staff member discovered the algae bloom and thought something looked strange.
Individuals are advised to avoid skin contact with the water in Campus Lake until further notice. Human contact with the water can cause skin rashes or in some cases stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, headache, fever, or muscle weakness if ingested. Animals swimming in or drinking the water may become fatally ill.
Bame says the boat house as well as fishing and boating on the lake are temporarily banned. He urges people to keep their pets away from the water, but reassures that area drinking water is not affected. Bame says the algae will dissipate as temperatures cool. He added that the university cannot predict how long the lake will be closed. Meanwhile, the university is posting warning signs around the lake.
The City of Carbondale had a similar occurrence with blue-green algae on Evergreen Reservoir and Piles Fork Creek earlier this summer.
