The Genesee County Health Department (GCHD) is recommending that the public to avoid any contact
(humans and pets) with the water at Flint Park Lake, due to presence of a harmful algal bloom, cyanobacteria, detected during routine monitoring.
Cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae, are a natural part of lakes, rivers and ponds. Some cyanobacteria can
produce toxins, called cyanotoxins, that can make people and animals sick. When conditions are right, these
organisms can rapidly increase to form cyanobacterial blooms – or harmful algal blooms (HABs).
Exposure to cyanotoxins can come from swimming, boating, jet skiing or doing other activities in water with a bloom. Symptoms of illness may appear within hours to days including rashes and gastrointestinal illness.
Signs of illness from cyanotoxins often appear quicker in animals than in people – sometimes in minutes to a few hours. Signs of cyanotoxin exposure in animals include vomiting and convulsions.
For more information regarding HABs, you can go to this website:
https://www.michigan.gov/egle/about/organization/water-resources/glwarm/harmful-algal-blooms
GCHD provides services on behalf of the Genesee County Board of Commissioners. GCHD is committed to
enhancing community well-being in Genesee County by preventing disease, promoting health, and protecting
against environmental hazards. Their stated mission focuses on creating a healthier, safer environment for all
residents.
