Important Health Warning Now Issued At 3 Popular Minnesota Beaches

Few things say summer in Minnesota like an afternoon at the lake, but this stretch of hot, still weather has turned some of our favorite swimming spots into a health hazard.

When the temperatures climb and the water goes calm, toxic algae can take over fast, which can be dangerous to your entire family, including your pets.

Blue-green algae blooms look like pea soup or spilled green paint, and the tricky part is that you can't tell a toxic bloom from a harmless one just by looking.

Coming into contact with it can cause rashes, vomiting, diarrhea, eye irritation, sore throat, and headaches in people, and it can be far worse for animals, especially dogs, who are the most vulnerable of all.

Dogs swallow more water while swimming, then keep ingesting toxins as they lick their coats afterward, and there have been documented cases of dogs dying after a single dip in a bloom. If your pup shows vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, difficulty breathing, or seizures after a swim, call a veterinarian immediately.

So, it's obviously important to be on the lookout and stay informed on where this stuff has already been confirmed. Recently, the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board issued a hazardous blue-green algae warning for 3 popular beaches in the area

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The Warning Covers All Three Cedar Lake Beaches

Recently, the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board has issued a hazardous blue-green algae warning for all three beaches at Cedar Lake, urging both people and pets to stay out of the water.

According to the board's public advisory, the bloom triggered the alert at Point Beach, South Beach and East Beach, with local outlets confirming the warning went up over the weekend.

These aren't obscure, out-of-the-way spots, either. East Beach — better known to locals as "Hidden Beach" — is one of the most iconic swimming holes in Minneapolis, which means the closure lands right in the middle of peak beach season for a whole lot of families.

 These Beaches Aren't The Only Risk

It's important to note that Cedar Lake is just where this warning happens to be posted right now.

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Blue-green algae can surface on almost any lake once water temperatures push past 75 degrees, and they tend to gather on the downwind side of a lake or tucked into secluded bays and shorelines.

green and blue abstract painting

The state offers guidance on spotting them, and neighbors in Wisconsin are facing the same thing, where officials have reportedly closed water to swimming over toxic blooms.

Simple Steps To Protect Your Family

A few habits go a long way. Steer clear of any water that looks like pea soup or has green scum along the shoreline, and if you or the kids do get in, rinse off with fresh water right away.

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Children are generally affected more than adults, so keep a close eye on the little ones and rinse them and their toys afterward. And never use untreated lake water for drinking or cooking — boiling it won't help and can actually concentrate the toxins.