Kansas officials are warning the public about 10 lakes including two in Brown County due to harmful algal blooms.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), in conjunction with the Kansas Department of Wildlife Parks and Tourism (KDWPT), has issued a public health warning for 10 lakes and a watch for three lakes due to harmful algal blooms.

If a lake is under a public health warning for blue-green algae, activities such as boating and fishing may be safe. However, direct contact with water (i.e., wading, skiing and swimming) is strongly discouraged for people, pets and livestock. The lakes currently under a watch or warning status are:

Warning: Brown State Fishing Lake, Brown County
Warning: Central Park Lake, Shawnee County
Warning: Hiawatha City Lake, Brown County
Warning: Marion County Lake, Marion County
Warning: Melvern Outlet River Pond, Osage County
Warning: Melvern Outlet Swim Pond, Osage County
Warning: Overbrook City Lake, Osage County
Warning: Perry Lake (Zone A), Jefferson County
Warning: Sam’s Pond, Syracuse, Hamilton County
Warning: South Lake, Johnson County
Watch: Milford Reservoir (all zones), Geary, Dickinson and Clay counties
Watch: Perry Lake (Zones B, C and D), Jefferson County
Watch: Veteran’s Lake, Cowley County

Officials said lakes under a warning are not closed. Marinas, lakeside businesses and park camping facilities are open for business. Boating and fishing are safe on lakes under a warning, but contact with the water should be avoided.

When a warning is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:

• Lake water is not safe to drink for pets or livestock.
• Lake water, regardless of blue-green algae status, should never be consumed by humans.
• Water contact should be avoided.
• Fish may be eaten as long as they are rinsed with clean water and only the fillet portion is consumed, while all other parts are discarded.
• Do not allow pets to eat dried algae.
• If lake water contacts skin, wash with clean water as soon as possible.
• Avoid areas of visible algae accumulation.