Blue-green algae advisory lifted at Lake Texoma

TULSA - Based on recent test results, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District has lifted the lake-wide blue-green algae advisory at Lake Texoma.

Samples collected by the Grayson County Health Department on April 16, indicated that blue-green algae cell counts have fallen below the advisory threshold of 20,000 cells per milliliter of water established by the World Health Organization’s guidelines for recreational waters. The data was provided to the Tulsa District by the Grayson County Health Department. Due to jurisdictional limitations, GCHD was unable to collect samples at Sheppard Annex, Grayson County, Texas; Johnson Creek, Bryan County, Oklahoma; Lakeside public use area, Bryan County, Oklahoma; and Little Glasses Creek, Marshall County, Oklahoma. However, based on continued water and hydropower releases, recent rainfall and the significant drop in cell counts at the locations tested, the Corps of Engineers has lifted the advisory. "The drop between March and April at Treasure Island was 20 fold," said Dr. Tony Clyde, limnologist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District. "I would anticipate that a 10 to 20 fold decrease has occurred in the upper reaches of the Red and Washita River arms based upon the current release schedule, recent rainfall, reservoir elevation, and the subsidence of the bloom in Lebanon Pool and Brier Creek." The data breakdown includes:

Little Mineral Arm- 3,821 cells/ml Eisenhower State Park Beach- 1,103 cells/ml Treasure Island- 1,211 cells/ml UNT-17/Main Lake Body- 1,313 cells/ml For more information, visit the Tulsa District website at www.swt.usace.army.mil or our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/usacetulsa.