Heat brings blue-green algae blooms back to Sask. lakes

For many Saskatchewan residents, summer is measured in lake days: the first jump off the dock, the morning paddle or an open-water swim in the afternoon. As temperatures climb, a familiar summer visitor can change the lake experience.

Patrick Boyle, spokesperson with the Water Security Agency (WSA), said hot and dry conditions combined with calm water create the perfect environment for blue-green algae blooms to form.

“Blue-green algae is a naturally occurring thing that happens in our lakes and across the province, but it’s really (the) weather conditions that contribute to it,” Boyle said.

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He explained Saskatchewan’s prairie climate means many lakes experience conditions that allow algae to grow, especially during long stretches of heat with little wind or wave activity.

“We have nutrient-rich areas that come together, and they really thrive when it’s just calm, still, hot, dry weather,” he said.

Boyle said blue-green algae – also called cyanobacteria – can appear as surface scum, foam or a shimmering layer on the water. Blooms may look blue-green, grey, tan or resemble spilled paint in colour.

While not every bloom produces toxins, he said some can be harmful to people, pets and livestock, and noted that exposure can happen through swallowing contaminated water or having direct contact with a bloom.

Boyle said the message for lake users is simple: awareness and avoidance.

“If you do see an algal bloom or algae blooms, just avoid that area within the water,” he commented.

Boyle explained while some people may only notice irritation after contact, others can experience more serious reactions if contaminated water is swallowed.

“What algae blooms can do when they make contact with direct skin or unintended consumption of that water, it can cause some red skin, sore throat, cramps, nausea, vomiting, some diarrhea,” he said.

He added pets can be especially vulnerable because dogs may drink lake water or lick algae from their fur after swimming.

“It can be toxic for pets or livestock, so it’s something to very much pay attention to,” Boyle cautioned.

He said because Saskatchewan has thousands of lakes, monitoring every body of water individually is challenging. Because of this, Boyle said the WSA issues province-wide advisories and works alongside other programs that monitor public beaches.

“We have almost 100,000 lakes in Saskatchewan, so monitoring-wise it’s very difficult.”

For Carly Priebe, a University of Saskatchewan kinesiology professor and triathlon coach, checking conditions has become a regular part of preparing swimmers for open water.

“It (blue-green algae blooms) wasn’t something that was as prominent before. I do tend to keep a close eye on the Healthy Beaches program,” she said.

Priebe – who has been hosting open-water clinics for more than 15 years to teach athletes how to navigate open water, swim around others and prepare for triathlon events – said she often plans clinics earlier in the season when lakes are cooler and clearer to avoid potential issues.

“We often run our clinics in June,” she said. “By July, things can start to get pretty warm, and there’s a lot more chance of some of the algae.”

Before entering the water, Priebe said she encourages swimmers to look closely at the lake conditions and consider whether the water appears unusual.

However, she said appearances alone do not always tell the full story. Wind, weather and activity on the lake can affect what swimmers see.

“People often just use their visual sight, so it’s often what it looks like, which doesn’t always dictate what’s going on,” she said.

With blue-green algae concerns another factor swimmers must consider during Saskatchewan summers, Priebe said adapting to conditions is an important part of staying safe in open water.

“I also tend to change my plans on the fly, too,” She said. “I go to a I stay at a cabin all the time in the summer, and a lot of times I’m making choices based on how the lake looks, but also the boat traffic, the wind, the conditions and the weather.

“You have to be flexible.”