Lake Hartwell stays on the leisure station through the Memorial Day

Columbia, SC (WIS) – The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) announced that Lake Hartwell will remain at the leisure station after finding a harmful algae blossom (HAB).

Officials said that the teams of the Aquatic Science Division (ASD) surveyed the lake and collected new water samples from 17 different locations on Monday, and found that algae blossom is still available in many bays and along the coast.

Lake Hartwell stood under a leisure station since Wednesday, April 30, after the SCDE had identified in the lake.

According to experts, a continued presence of cyanobacteria (Blue Green algae) was able to produce toxins in the Monday samples on the lake. Microcystine, a family of toxins, were detected in all 17 removed samples.

However, civil servants said that the conditions could improve compared to another full Lake survey on May 6th.

Due to the last observation round and samples, officials told the officials who Leisure guard for the Hartwell lake remains valid.

Scdes advises the public to avoid contact with sea water where the HAVE is located and prevent animals from swimming or drinking from the lake in the HAB areas.

Officials said SCDEs will continue to monitor Lake Hartwell and communicate with local officials, stakeholders and the public.

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