Zone C at Milford Lake has been closed under recommendations from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment following test results from samples collected October 5th.

According to RJ Harms, Operations Project Manager for the Corps of Engineers at Milford Lake cell counts and toxin levels in zone C dramatically increased to record levels at the Timber Creek boat ramp warranting the closure.

“The Timber Creek area had over 800 million cell counts and over 30,000 on the microcystin toxin levels,” said Harms. “If you remember the warning level starts at 250,000, a closure starts at 10 million and the cell count was over 800 million for that. The toxin levels the warning starts at 20, a closure starts at 2,000, and we had 30,000 measured at Timber Creek. Whatever happened over the last week or so has really gotten things going up there on the north end of the lake.”

Levels in zone B did go below the watch status but with expected north winds over the next 24-36 hours that could push some of the blue-green algae down from zone C to zone B the KDHE recommended keeping zone B under a watch status. Zone A remains clear.

Under a complete closure the Corps of Engineers does place barricades in front of the boat ramps in Zone C and restricts all water contact. Boating and fishing is still permitted under a watch status.

Additional samples will be collected next Monday to monitor current conditions and any movement of the concentrated bloom.