Pasqua Lake residents Rick Minnet and Pat Lee are used to the green tinge of the Qu'Appelle Valley water. But when Minnet and Lee kayaked and swam across the lake last weekend, they found themselves disgusted by the large algae blooms.
“It was very thick and green, and on top of the green, there was patches of bright blue,” said Lee. “As we got halfway across, I realized he probably shouldn't be swimming in the lake.”
While Minnet suffered no ill effects from the water, the couple plans to avoid the lake if it looks like that again.
“You want to be able to enjoy the water and go for a swim, or go for a paddle. People kind of go, 'Oh, I don't want to go in that water,' and that's always disappointing,” said Lee.
The situation caused the Water Security Agency to issue an algae advisory. While it sees algae blooms annually, the organization said the blooms started earlier this summer than in previous years.
“Typically it doesn't happen until a bit later in the season here, until August,” said Patrick Boyle, Water Security Agency spokesperson. “But, with the warm, hot, dry weather, and not a lot of rainfall in the month of July, there's been a lot more formation of it.”
Boyle said the City of Regina recently increased their treatment capacity for the waste water they send into the Qu'Appelle River, which will eventually help improve the situation.
In the meantime, environmental organization Calling Lakes Eco Museum is reminding lake-goers to help out.
“All we need to do is plant a few trees, reduce our pesticide use, get rid of the garbage, and we can make changes and help that water,” said Aura Lee MacPherson, Calling Lakes Eco Museum chair.
There is no word on how long these blooms will last, but as the heat continues, the Water Security Agency is asking people to avoid contact with the blooms, as they can cause rashes, cramps and even vomiting.
