Indianapolis, IN – Indiana’s state parks have issued a blue-green algae advisory for several lakes and reservoirs as of Thursday, August 16. The advisory, which impacts popular beaches across the state, outlines various levels of risk, advising swimmers, boaters, and pet owners on how to stay safe.
Beaches at Dean Lake SRA, Monroe Lake, and Summit Lake SRA are currently under a Low Risk alert. While swimming is permitted, visitors are urged not to drink the water and to shower immediately after swimming. Pet owners should also bathe their animals and prevent them from ingesting lake water.
A more serious Advisory Alert level affects several other lakes, including Brookville Lake, Salamonie Lake, and Mississinewa Lake. At these locations, swimming and boating are allowed, but direct contact with algae should be avoided. Pets are advised to steer clear of these waters, or at a minimum, be thoroughly rinsed off after any potential exposure.
According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR), no beaches are currently at the Caution or Beach Closed alert levels. However, they stress the importance of checking local signage and advisories before visiting any state parks. For more information and updates, residents and visitors can visit algae.IN.gov.
