Blue-Green Algae in Little Manitou Lake?

Last summer folks here at Manitou Beach noticed a bloom of bright blue-green colored algae in a sheltered bay just east of the Beach Store. It was a noticeably different color from the algae the usually grows there.

Lots of people expressed concern and alarm about the blue-green colored algae. Was it the toxic strain that was killing livestock in other parts of the country?

A MEGI member collected a pristine sample and shipped it off to an independent laboratory in Regina for analysis. M-R-2-McDonald & Associates (Consulting Engineers) wrote in their letter dated Sept. 20, 2007, in part,

“Attached are the results of the microscopic examinations carried out on the three samples you submitted from Manitou Lake. The dried sample collected Sept. 9 approx. half-way down the lake on the south side was predominantly composed of filaments (trichomes) of the cyanobacteria, Lyngbya sp. Cyanobacteria were previously known as blue-green algae. The genus has been mentioned as being found in previous studies of saline lakes in Saskatchewan. It may grow on submerged surfaces (epiphytic) or free-floating (planktonic). In large numbers, it becomes visible to the naked eye. Based on available reference material, this genus is not known to have toxic strains. The unidentified brown spherical particles may be brine shrimp eggs...

...The species observed from your samples suggest typical phytoplankton populations for Manitou Lake. Although some species may become more abundant periods of ideal growing conditions, and therefore become more noticeable than previously. Without further information, we cannot comment on possible causes.”

So, the good news is,
"NO. The blue-green colored algae is NOT the toxic strain."