Isle Royale Forums

From the NPS:

Algal Blooms - Intermediate Lake, Chickenbone Lake, & Lake Richie
Do not drink, filter, or boil water from Intermediate Lake, Chickenbone Lake, and Lake Richie. Filter or boil water prior to traveling to these lakes. These lakes are experiencing a cyanobacteria harmful algal bloom. Some species of cyanobacteria are toxic to humans. If ingested, it can cause headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and damage to internal organs. Skin contact can cause irritations. Filtering or boiling water will not remove toxins and may add them.
Fish consumption, swimming, and cleaning dishes in these lakes is not recommended at
this time. Similar algal blooms have occurred at Isle Royale in the past. Cyanobacteria occur naturally in the environment, but under the right conditions, it can form a toxic bloom.
Visitors should use caution not just on any inland lake that appears to have algal-bloom like symptoms (pea-soup, green sludge, blue-green blobs). Visitors are encouraged to report any sightings to park rangers and avoid interacting with water with suspect conditions.

Lake Livermore was added to the list of IR Lakes as not to use as a water source. Do not use water from Lake Livermore as of 9/05/21.

Thanks for posting this info! Heading to IR tomorrow. As far as you know, is this an exhaustive list of the current lakes not to drink from? Of course I will make sure there are no obvious signs of a bloom before filtering anywhere.

Livermore was added to the list. List is current as of 9/05

Any suggested books, articles about algal blooms. I'm considering another hike from McCargoe to Chippewa Harbor (hopefully) next year. I might have to hike directly from McCargoe again, to Chippewa Harbor. Especially, if I can't get water along the way. I'm curious about could the water be used earlier in the year or not at all again.

jerry wrote: Sun Sep 12, 2021 10:06 am Any suggested books, articles about algal blooms. I'm considering another hike from McCargoe to Chippewa Harbor (hopefully) next year. I might have to hike directly from McCargoe again, to Chippewa Harbor. Especially, if I can't get water along the way. I'm curious about could the water be used earlier in the year or not at all again.

This is a good start. Depends on the weather and when you go.
https://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/HABs_and_Hypoxia/

jerry wrote: Sun Sep 12, 2021 10:06 am Any suggested books, articles about algal blooms. I'm considering another hike from McCargoe to Chippewa Harbor (hopefully) next year. I might have to hike directly from McCargoe again, to Chippewa Harbor. Especially, if I can't get water along the way. I'm curious about could the water be used earlier in the year or not at all again.

So technically Lake LaSage was not in the bloom this time so it would have easy enough to refill there.

Visual update of the bloom on 9/10. Richie looked fine, chickenbone looked like green paint.