The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) reminds the public to remain watchful for harmful algal blooms– or HABs– when recreating on lakes around the state.
HABs typically occur during July, August, September in nutrient enriched lakes and ponds, although they can occur earlier or later in the year depending on the conditions. DANR says the best advice is “When in Doubt, Stay Out!” because HABs can be harmful to people, pets and livestock.
In South Dakota, HABs are usually produced by blue-green algae, a primitive photosynthetic alga also known as cyanobacteria. DANR and its partners collect toxin samples at lakes throughout the state and sample results are posted to an interactive map that shows toxin concentration levels at specific times and locations. However, the results should not be used to determine if waters are safe to use at any given time.
The interactive map can be found at: https://sdbit.maps.arc gis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=45804d54f0bb4ba5ae20b9228ce1f28a.
For more information on HABs, visit DANR’s website at: https://danr.sd.gov/Conservation/WatershedProtection/HAB.aspx.
If you have questions about HABs and what to do if you encounter one, please contact Joshua Strobel at 1-800-438-3367 or Joshua.Strobel@state.sd.us.
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