17°c Clear
25°c Chance of thundershowers
Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION
Advisories posted at some Manitoba beaches, including Gimli, West Grand
Blue-green algae washes onto a Lake Winnipeg beach in a 2010 file photo. (LAURIE BAILEY / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS ARCHIVES) Photo Store
Wind and weather did a number on the beaches this week, as the hot sun shines on a peak summer weekend at Manitoba cottage country.
Winds churned E. coli into the water at Lake Winnipeg's beaches, where counts were reported above recreational water quality guidelines at Gimli Beach, Manitoba's Water Stewardship reported Friday.
This week, algal blooms were reported on Lake Winnipeg at Victoria and West Grand beaches, at Big Whiteshell Lake beach and at Killarney Lake beach, the province said in a routine update on beach conditions. The conditions are based on counts taken Thursday.
The number of blue-green algae cells and the concentration of the algal toxins were below the recreational water quality guideline at all four locations.
Algal blooms were also reported on Pelican Lake at Ninette and at Pleasant Valley, but again the levels of toxins were below guidelines thresholds.
Algae advisory signs are posted at Pelican Lake (Pleasant Valley and Ninette) and on Lake Winnipeg at Hillside Beach, West Grand Beach and at the lagoon at West Grand Beach.
The province reminded people to avoid swimming in water where severe algal blooms are visible and to prevent pets from drinking water along the shoreline.
Bacteria counts tend to increase when strong north winds cause water levels to temporarily increase and large waves wash bacteria out of beach sand on Lake Winnipeg.
When calmer weather returns, E. coli bacteria levels typically fall quickly to below guideline levels.
But conversely, warm and calm weather coupled with relatively high-nutrient loads make ideal conditions for blue-green algae to bloom.
History
Updated on Saturday, July 28, 2012 at 9:36 AM CDT: corrects algae blooms to algal blooms
More Local
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
More Local
(1 of 19 articles for today)
Flaggers' safety was questioned
1:00 AM 0On the second day of the trial of a driver who struck and killed a highway-construction flag woman, court heard ...
Poll
Most Popular Local
- Community's children apprehended by province
- Glover quits quarrel over election costs
- Bar closing at Royal Albert
- Motorists complained about unsafe practices at site of crash that killed worker
- Blogger found in contempt of court
- Métis ready to ring bell again
- Kids of St. Ignatius make Sweet gesture to beloved crossing guard
- New crowd plan for Taylor Swift get-together
- Fatal crash 'could have happened to anyone'; defence seeks weekend sentence
- Ex's Mach 3 an adrenaline accelerator
- Safeway stores likely to close
- Squirrel crawls out of Winnipegger's toilet
- Poolside feeding prompts eviction
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Court told driver hysterical after vehicle fatally hit highway worker
- Community's children apprehended by province
- Glover quits quarrel over election costs
- Stoppage of play off the field
- Child in critical condition after West End crash
- Kenyan wins Manitoba Marathon
- Father blasts 'horrific' movie
- Safeway stores likely to close
- Man dies after being pulled from vehicle submerged in Winnipeg retention pond
- Flood money paid for CEO's romantic trip
- Car in deadly crash stolen?
- UPDATE: Now with FAQ: Keeping the e-party going without the party-crashers
- Squirrel crawls out of Winnipegger's toilet
- Daycare provider charged with abandonment
- Poolside feeding prompts eviction
- Two people killed in crash north of Winnipeg
- Community's children apprehended by province
- Métis ready to ring bell again
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Kids of St. Ignatius make Sweet gesture to beloved crossing guard
- Province blows off wind megawatt goal
- New crowd plan for Taylor Swift get-together
- Ex's Mach 3 an adrenaline accelerator
- Blogger found in contempt of court
- Toilet contents need help escaping
- Known as kind, outgoing men
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Squirrel crawls out of Winnipegger's toilet
- Safeway stores likely to close
- Province blows off wind megawatt goal
- Community's children apprehended by province
- $110-K worth of nickel plates stolen from Thompson mine
- Known as kind, outgoing men
- A day in the life of 13,380 Manitoba Marathon participants
- Métis ready to ring bell again
- Stoppage of play off the field
- Basic arithmetic back in class
- Squirrel crawls out of Winnipegger's toilet
- Father blasts 'horrific' movie
- Developers to unveil plans for bold downtown tower
- Teachers support adding sexual-orientation themes to all curricula
- The crime fighter's revolution
- Safeway stores likely to close
- Car in deadly crash stolen?
- City's first urban reserve born
- On board with the Snowbirds
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is be a Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscriber to join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
Have Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press print or e-edition subscribers only. why?
Login SubscribeHave Your Say
Comments are open to Winnipeg Free Press Subscribers only. why?
SubscribeThe Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.