Green-blue algae has been sighted in tested and verified in Yellowknife Bay. According to the GNWT, the algae is not a health risk to residents in the area.
The GNWT says the Department of Environment and Climate Change received a report of a spill of an unidentified green-blue substance on the surface of Great Slave Lake near Negus Point.
After inspection, the ECC determined there was no fuel discharge, leading inspectors to begin testing samples.
Results found the substance to be a cyanobacteria bloom, a common, non-toxic type of algae, therefore the GNWT determined the water to be safe.
The ECC credits the combination of unusually warm water temperatures, less flow through the Yellowknife River, and winds from the south for the bloom. According to the ECC, small algal blooms have been observed in Great Slave Lake near the mirage islands and in bays on the North Arm previously.
Water users and residents around Yellowknife Bay are advised to avoid swimming in the areas and keep pets away. Drinking and cooking water from the bay is also not recommended at this time.
