Go here: lakes.grace.edu/microcystin-data.

From June to August, generously funded by the K21 Health Foundation, the Lilly Center research team will conduct sampling on 14 lakes and seven beaches throughout Kosciusko County. Water samples will be processed for microcystin, a toxin produced by blue-green algae, in the Lilly Center’s lab.

“When ingested or left on your skin for too long, microcystin becomes a health concern for those living on or visiting the lakes,” said Jed Harvey, research technician at the Lilly Center. “It’s known to cause issues for dogs and other pets. It can also have negative effects on humans, including liver damage.” Harvey will oversee water sample testing to ensure the results’ accuracy.

“Blue-green algae is a complex issue because not every species creates toxins, and the toxin-producing species do not always produce toxins,” said Dr. Nate Bosch, director of the Lilly Center. 

Bosch further explained, Blue-green algae are abundant in our lakes, and data from the past four years show that microcystin toxin levels average at or near the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s (IDEM) levels of concern for pets (0.8 ppb). While 12.6% of the lakes we studied during the summer of 2021 exceeded that threshold, typical levels do not approach IDEM’s guidelines for human health concerns (8.0 ppb).

Residents and visitors can visit lakes.grace.edu/bts for more specific data from previous years’ research.

The weekly microcystin updates will enable you to make the best decisions for your friends and families. Sign up today! If you spot a blue-green algae bloom or something similar that you cannot identify, email the Lilly Center at [email protected] with pictures, date and location of the bloom. A team member will follow up with you.