NEENAH – Blue-green algae washing ashore on the northern end of Lake Winnebago.

It could potentially put people’s health at risk.

Neenah Parks Department workers Ty Hegg and Connor Behm checked out the conditions at Fresh Air Park, Monday morning.

“Like if you touch it, you just have small green particles on your hand. You have to wash your hands before you eat, or other things like that,” said Connor Behm, Neenah Parks Department Worker.

The algae is actually bacteria. It arrived early this year.

“Typically we start to see it around the Fourth of July weekend, where we get the first sunny days. This time it’s mid-June instead of the beginning of July,” said Rob McLennan, D.N.R. Water Resources Field Supervisor.

McLennan says the algae can create more than a mess.

“People need to be aware of of what it looks like. Because we can’t say that a given spot on the lake is safe, because the wind can blow it in, or blow it out in a matter of hours,” he said.

And just downstream in Menasha, the water started going green a couple days ago. The health department posted water quality advisory signs at parks around town.

“It can potentially form a toxin, that could be fatal to animals, especially  pets. It will cause contact dermatitis with children, and potentially some gastro-intestinal problems if they consume it,” said Todd Drew, Menasha Health Department Sanitarian.

Drew says he checks the lake water each week.

“Just looking at the clarity of the water, the sample was, you couldn’t even see through it, it was so green,” he said.

Officials say some rain, wind, and cooler temperatures may help. But at this point, it could be a very green summer.

“With the runoff we’ve had, I’m anticipating a pretty bad blue-green algae season, but it’s hard to tell. But for right now, I think it may end up being a bad one,” said McLennan.

Experts say the algae could continue to bloom on Lake Winnebago until September.

Only one closing based on a check Monday afternoon. That was the Boom Bay Boat Landing on Lake Poygan.

Several beaches face elevated bacteria, and one caution warning.

Source:  WBAY.com