Feds, state close Marion Reservoir because of blue-green algae

Marion Reservoir, about an hour’s drive northeast of Wichita, has been closed to all recreational use because of a potentially dangerous outbreak of blue-green algae.

All campsites within 100 feet of the water have also been closed.

The announcement came Thursday evening in a news release from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism. The reservoir will remain closed until further notice.

The warning came after complaints reached the KDHE on Tuesday, the release said.

Contact or ingestion of blue-green algae can be harmful to humans and has killed pets in some instances in Kansas.

Ron Kaufman, Wildlife, Parks and Tourism information services director, said this is the first official action the state has taken this year due to blue-green algae.

Marion Reservoir is annually plagued with blue-green algae and has had some of the state’s highest levels for at least the past 10 years.

Marion County Lake, a few miles to the south of the reservoir, remains open.

This story was originally published June 1, 2017 at 7:12 PM with the headline "Feds, state close Marion Reservoir because of blue-green algae."