CHESHIRE TOWNSHIP, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — The Allegan County Health Department (ACHD) received preliminary positive results from testing of a suspected blue-green algae bloom, also known as cyanobacteria, or harmful algal blooms (HABs), in Swan Lake located in Cheshire Township.

Samples are being sent to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) for additional testing.

ACHD is recommending visitors and residents of the lake avoid water-related activities and keep pets from drinking or going in the lake water, in the area where the bloom is visible until sampling for testing is complete or the bloom breaks up. Advisory signs have been posted around the lake.

Summer is the peak season for the formation of HABs that can present health hazards to people and pets. In Michigan, algal blooms typically occur during periods of warm temperatures, lots of sun, and high nutrient levels.

It is not possible to determine whether algal blooms contain harmful toxins by looking at them, so it is best to avoid contact with any body of water that is covered with algal mats or significant rafts of algae on the surface. You can search advisories or closings for bodies of water throughout Michigan online or contact EGLE at 800-662-9278 for more information about HABs and the environment.

Actions to take in the Areas where the Bloom is Visible:

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