Staff writer
Samples of water taken Aug. 8 from Marion County Lake show blue-green algae concentrations continuing to decline, but a health advisory for the lake remains in effect, Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced Thursday.
A sample taken at the boat ramp by the dam showed a 40 percent decline in algae concentration compared with July 25. A sample taken at the swimming beach showed an 11 percent decline.
However, the concentrations were still above the threshold to lift the advisory, by 46 percent at the boat ramp and 133 percent at the beach. In a health advisory, people are urged to avoid direct contact with the water.
The next samples will be taken Monday. Results are usually available three days later. In case algae concentrations still necessitate a health advisory, the county has made arrangements to send samples to KDHE every two weeks, Marion County Environmental Health Director Tonya Richards said. Otherwise, the tests would only be done once per month.