Alberta Health Services issues advisory for Matchayaw Lake

Alberta Health Services has issued a health advisory for Matchayaw (Devil’s) Lake, located approximately 60 km west of Edmonton, following the identification of cyanobacterial (blue-green algal) blooms and toxins in the water.

Authorities advise the public to avoid swimming or wading in areas where blooms are visible and to prevent all contact with algae in the water or washed up on the shore. Contact with these blooms can cause skin irritation, rashes, sore throats, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Symptoms typically appear within one to three hours.

Residents and visitors are warned not to drink or cook with water from the lake, noting that boiling the water does not remove the toxins. Regarding food safety, officials recommend eating only fish fillets rather than whole fish or trimmings, as toxins may be stored in the liver. Pets should be kept away from the water to avoid potentially fatal exposure.