The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy and its partners have begun weekly sampling of public lakes across Nebraska.
This sampling will test for microcystin—a toxin produced by harmful algal blooms, also known as toxic blue-green algae—and E. coli bacteria. NDEE and its partners collect these samples at 50 public recreational lakes (55 beach sites) throughout the state from May through September.
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and NDEE will issue joint Health Alerts for HABs when test results indicate the toxin microcystin are at levels above 8 parts per billion.
NDEE’s sampling partners include the Central District Health Department, Nebraska Public Power District, Upper Republican Natural Resources District, Lower Republican NRD, South Platte NRD, Middle Niobrara NRD, Lower Loup NRD, Nemaha NRD, Lower Elkhorn NRD and the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
