Five Kansas lakes under a public health warning for blue-green algae

Five Kansas lakes are under a public health warning due to concerns about blue-green algae, according to a Kansas Department of Health and Environment news release on Friday.

The lakes are: the Keith Sebelius Reservoir in Norton County, Kirwin Lake in Phillips County, Marion County Lake and Marion Reservoir in Marion County and Sam’s Pond Syracuse in Hamilton County.

Boating and fishing are still allowed in these lakes, but direct contact with the water is discouraged for people, pets and livestock.

The release states that fish caught in these lakes are safe to eat as long as the fillets are rinsed with clean water.

The KDHE recommends lake visitors take precautions to avoid contact with any water that is scum-ridden, bright green or has a paint-like surface layer.

This story was originally published June 16, 2017 at 5:12 PM with the headline "Five Kansas lakes under a public health warning for blue-green algae."