Toxic algae bloom may be developing in Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana Health Department warns

[TexasTowelie]

The Louisiana Health Department issued an advisory Friday about a large algae bloom it said may be developing in Lake Pontchartrain. Algae blooms can produce cyanobacteria, which can produce neurotoxins harmful to humans and animals.

Officials at the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation said they had fielded a few calls reporting the algae blooms, but the organization has not been able to confirm the presence of harmful bacteria with actual samples.

However, shifting winds can make collecting water samples difficult, said Brady Skaggs, water quality program director at the foundation.

Skaggs said people should be careful in the presence of algae, which can be blue, bright green, brown or red and can have a strong odor like rotting plants.

Read more: https://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/news/environment/article_6a489830-9473-11e9-ad50-4b80e33f292d.html