WDEQ warns of harmful cyanobacteria bloom (HCB) recreational use toxin advisories for various Boysen Reservoir areas

The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) works cooperatively with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality to issue recreational use advisories when cyanobacteria cell densities or cyanotoxin concentrations pose a risk to people engaging in swimming or similar water contact activities in areas where cyanobacteria blooms occur. HCBs may also pose a health risk to animals.

The most recent advisories include:

• A harmful cyanobacteria bloom (HCB) recreational use TOXIN ADVISORY has been issued for ALCOVA RESERVOIR: SANDY BEACH.

• A harmful cyanobacteria bloom (HCB) recreational use TOXIN ADVISORY has been issued for BOYSEN RESERVOIR: COTTONWOOD CAMPGROUND AND RAMP.

• A harmful cyanobacteria bloom (HCB) recreational use TOXIN ADVISORY has been issued for BOYSEN RESERVOIR: FREMONT BAY.

• A harmful cyanobacteria bloom (HCB) recreational use TOXIN ADVISORY has been issued for BOYSEN RESERVOIR: TAMARASK CAMPGROUND.

• A harmful cyanobacteria bloom (HCB) recreational use BLOOM ADVISORY has been issued for MUDDY GUARD RESERVOIR #1.

The WDH is working directly with resource management agencies to ensure signs are posted at the reservoir. Additional details regarding advisories and other HCB resources can be found at WyoHCBs.org. 

Bloom advisories are issued when a HCB is present and cyanotoxins may be present. Toxin advisories are issued when cyanotoxins exceed recreational thresholds. Waterbodies under an advisory are not closed since HCBs may only be present in certain areas and conditions can change frequently. Advisories will remain in place until blooms have fully dissipated and cyanotoxin concentrations are below recreational use thresholds identified in Wyoming’s HCB Action Plan. 

If you encounter a potential HCB, the Wyoming Department of Health and the Wyoming Livestock Board recommend the following:

• Avoid contact with water in the vicinity of the bloom, especially in areas where cyanobacteria are dense and form scums.
• Do not ingest water from the bloom. Boiling, filtration and/or other treatments will not remove toxins.
• Rinse fish with clean water and eat only the fillet portion.
• Avoid water spray from the bloom.
• Do not allow pets or livestock to drink water near the bloom, eat bloom material, or lick fur after contact.
• If people, pets, or livestock come into contact with a bloom, rinse off with clean water as soon as possible and contact a doctor or veterinarian.

Questions about health effects and recreational use advisories can be directed to Courtney Tillman, Surveillance Epidemiologist, Wyoming Department of Health, at courtney.tillman@wyo.gov or (307) 777-5522. Questions regarding cyanobacteria sampling can be directed to Rachel Eyres, Recreational Water Quality Coordinator, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, at rachel.eyres@wyo.gov or (307) 777-2073.

Current HCB Recreational Use Advisories*

*There may be additional waterbodies with HCBs that WDH and WDEQ are not aware of. Please report potential blooms to WDEQ and HCB-related illnesses to WDH.