Press Releases

USACE RECEIVES TEST RESULTS FROM GA DNR FOLLOWING REPORTS OF HARMFUL ALGAE AT ALLATOONA LAKE

US Army Corps of Engineers
Published Aug. 14, 2019

Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division responded to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mobile District Aug. 14, 2019, with test results of Allatoona Lake, addressing recent public concern about harmful algal blooms.

GA DNR’s Environmental Protection Division issued the following statement to USACE Mobile District: 

The Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has received test results from water samples taken from Lake Allatoona, and they indicate levels of toxic blue green algae are within the safe range. EPD suspects an algae bloom may have occurred this past weekend and that the samples were collected after the bloom began to dissipate.

EPD recommends that people and pets avoid going into lakes or ponds that appear bright green or the color of pea soup.

The public’s safety is a top priority for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. USACE Mobile District encourages the public recreating at Allatoona Lake, and any other Corps recreation sites, to follow the guidance provided by GA EPD. Members of the public should quickly report to Corps personnel any sightings of Corps waters suspected as being potentially harmful. USACE will immediately alert GA EPD of any suspected sightings.

“We appreciate the quick response and support of the GA EPD Team, our state of Georgia partner who has the responsibility for water quality at our Georgia Corps Lakes,” said Amy Cobb, Natural Resources Program Manager, USACE Mobile District. “We ask the public to use caution at all our Corps Lake properties.”

Under its state and federal authorities to protect Georgia’s water resources, GA EPD dispatched an environmental testing team to Lake Allatoona, Monday, Aug. 12, 2019. The EPD team collected water samples for algal testing, following social media reports over the previous weekend, expressing concern about possible harmful algal presence.

Learn more about risks and precautions regarding harmful algal blooms by visiting GA EPD’s website,  https://epd.georgia.gov/harmful-algal-blooms, or calling GA EPD at 1-888-373-5947.

Follow the Allatoona Lake Project on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USACEAllatoonaLake/

 

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Contact
Public Affairs
251-690-2505
CESAM-PA@usace.army.mil
109 SAINT JOSEPH STREET, MOBILE ALABAMA 36602-3630

Release no. 19-027