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On Monday, 17 February 2014 12:24 PM, Jeremy Froger <Jeremy.Froger@hcc.govt.nz> wrote:
Hello all,
Hamilton City Council’s Parks and Open Spaces Unit has been proactively monitoring algae levels in Hamilton’s Lake Rotoroa over the summer period.

To date, this has been on a weekly basis. An increase in algae levels was detected a week ago, although levels remained safe for recreational use.

To monitor the situation more closely, intensive sampling was carried out across the lake last week. Although some of the samples have shown a decrease in algae counts, samples from parts of the lake exposed to strong winds have returned very high results that exceed safe measurements.

As a result we are advising the public to keep out of the water, and warning parents not to allow their children near the lake’s edge. Dog owners should also keep their animals away from the water, and fish from the lake should not be eaten. Dog owners whose animals are exposed to the water should see the advice of a veterinarian as soon as possible. Contact with visible scums and areas of discoloured and turbid water should be avoided. If any exposure occurs wet clothes should be removed and the affected area should be hosed down.

Regular sampling will continue so we can advise when algae concentrations return to safe levels.

Jeremy Froger
Team Leader Natural Environments | Parks and Open Spaces