US lake has dangerous levels of BGA

KJRH:  TULSA - After an emergency meeting with the board of directors of the Grand River Dam Authority, the board has made a decision regarding the future of Grand Lake.

The board has decided to continue posting signs and advising the public to stay out of the water.

While they recommend the public to not come into contact with the waters of Grand Lake, they are not prohibiting it.

They say the major focus of concern is on pets and young children. Friday's blue-green algae (BGA) levels are higher than ever recorded before in Oklahoma. The GRDA says if algae blooms die all at once, the amount of toxins released into the water would become even more dangerous.

GRDA officials continue to recommend that no one get in the lake. They also discourage people from using lake water to water their lawns.

Officials also caution boaters. They say the spray and fine mist from boats could increase the risk of people breathing in the BGA.

The GRDA and Department of Environmental Quality believe the situation continues to worsen. Both groups say the August-like temperatures combined with a nutrient-rich lake caused by recent flooding creates the perfect storm of circumstances, which led to this situation.

Copyright 2011 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.