Blue-green algae found at Buffalo Pound Lake

It’s a sight that can stop long-weekend fun in its tracks, the foamy green sheen over a lake that means blue-green algae is blooming.

The province put out a warning this week about possible blooms of the algae.

Patrick Boyle, with the Water Security Agency, said it’s that time of year.

“We see it a lot really around this time when we have warm, hot, dry weather and not a whole lot of wind and wave action.”

It happens when a perfect storm of nutrients, wind, and weather get together.

As of Thursday morning, the only place the algae had been reported was Buffalo Pound Lake, north of Moose Jaw, but Boyle said the blooms can happen anywhere.

“We have 100,000 lakes across the province, so it’s more of a blanket advisory to look out for these and just to avoid those areas that you may see one of these large blooms on.”

Boyle described the algae as a shimmery blue, green, or tan foam over the top of the water.

“You’ll see kind of a, looks like a pea-soup almost, colouration to them and it’s best to avoid those, for sure.”

Coming into contact with the water or drinking it can cause red skin and rashes, sore throat, cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. It can especially be dangerous for animals and livestock.