It’s that time of the year when toxic algae blooms start to limit water access on some of Colorado’s lakes and reservoirs, as seen this week in a swimming ban at a state park.

According to an announcement from Jackson Lake State Park near Fort Morgan, a recent sampling indicated that high toxic algae levels were present in the lake. As a result, the public has been asked to avoid all contact with the water at this time, including pets.

Swimming, wading, and contact water activities are not allowed and pets should be kept completely away from the water with a stern warning not to let them drink from or enter the lake. People should also not touch water, foam, or algae along the shoreline. As of right now, boating and fishing remain permissible.

Given the test results, the state park has increased water testing to once a week. Once algae levels drop to a safe range, signage that has been posted in the area related to the situation will be removed and the advisory will be lifted.

Blue-green algae tends to pop up in Colorado when warmer temperatures hit, often developing in stagnant water. As the Boulder County government has explained it in the past, it appears as “thick pea soup” or “spilled bluish-green paint on the water’s surface.”

Contact with or consuming blue-green algae can result in illness in both humans and pets. A few symptoms can include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, skin and eye irritation, throat irritation, and difficulty breathing.

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