By MIKE CORN

mcorn@dailynews.net

LOGAN -- A public warning has been issued for elevated levels of the toxic blue-green algae at the Logan City Lake in Phillips County.

The warning was issued by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment because algae concentrations exceed the threshold for recreational water use.

The warning was issued just as the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks closed some access to the waters and beach areas of Meade State Park.

The order restricting access was issued Wednesday.

Direct water contact activities such as swimming and wading are prohibited until further notice.

While authorities will monitor lake conditions,. KDHE recommends the following precautions at Meade State Fishing Lake:

* Do not drink lake water.

* Avoid swimming, wading or other activities with full body contact of lake water.

* Clean fish well, consume only the fillet portion and discard all other body parts.

* Keep pets from having contact with or drinking the water.

Contact with the water, such as wading or swimming, can cause a skin rash, as well as eye, ear and throat irritation. Ingestion or inhaling aerosols of contaminated water can cause diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, fever, fatigue and flu-like symptoms.

Animals, especially dogs, can also become ill as a result of coming into contact with or ingesting the water.

Further information on algae and algae blooms can be found online at www.kdheks.gov/algae-illness/index.htm