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Health alert issued for Red Willow Reservoir

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By The Associated Press

Friday, Jul 11, 2008 - 04:54:59 pm CDT



A health alert has been issued for Red Willow Reservoir near McCook.

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and other agencies cited an excess of toxins from blue-green algae in the water.

An alert issued earlier this month for Holmes Lake in Lincoln remains in effect. The state plans to monitor 45 other lakes through September.

People can still camp, fish and boat on lakes under the alert, but should not have full-body contact.

The algae, which scientists say are plantlike bacteria, are common in fresh water. Some types can produce dangerous toxins.

Drinking toxin-tainted water can cause vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory failure and, rarely, death.


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Whats new doc wrote on July 12, 2008 9:38 am:
" This isn't anything new in nebraska. You let the farms use all kinds of chemicals in the land and expect them not to get into the water. How about the towns sewage systems flowing into the streams? Get some pressure on these people to control the amount of sewage leftovers that go into the water. Where I live they stopped all upstream sewer that didn't meet the criteria to go into the water. The algae growth has stopped and the one lake is one of the three cleanest in the nation. You have to be willing to be proactive to keep the water clean. God isn't going to make anymore when it's all polluted. "