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Popular lake destination in Sedgwick County under algae warning. Here are the details

A sign stands on the shore of Lake Afton in this 2017 photo.
A sign stands on the shore of Lake Afton in this 2017 photo. The Wichita Eagle
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  • Lake Afton faces blue-green algae warning from Kansas health officials
  • KDHE advises against swimming, boating, and pet exposure to lake water
  • Fish fillets may be eaten if rinsed; all other parts should be discarded

People and their pets should avoid the water at a popular weekend destination in west Sedgwick County because of algae, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment said Friday afternoon.

Lake Afton, which is southwest of Goddard, is under a blue-green algae warning, meaning the algae is “expected or present” and conditions are unsafe for human and pet exposure, according to the KDHE.

Here is what the KDHE recommends:

  • Water contact, including swimming and boating, should be avoided
  • Inhalation of spray or aerosols may be harmful
  • Lake water is not safe to drink for pets or livestock
  • Do not allow pets to eat dried algae
  • Fish may be eaten if they are rinsed with clean water and only the fillet portion is consumed, while all other parts are discarded
  • If lake water contacts skin, wash with clean water as soon as possible
  • Avoid areas of visible algae accumulation
    MS
    Michael Stavola
    The Wichita Eagle
    Michael Stavola is a former journalist for The Eagle.
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