Latest news with #GrantCounty
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Five bodies of water added to KDHE's blue-green algae advisory list
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment added five bodies of water to its blue-green algae advisory list on Friday: Warning Elkhorn Lake, Jackson County (Added July 11) Frazier Lake, Grant County Gathering Pond, Geary County Kill Creek Park Lake, Johnson County (Added July 11) Marion County Lake, Marion County (Added July 11) Watch Atchison City Lake #9, Atchison County Atchison State Fishing Lake, Atchison County Jeffrey Energy Make-Up Lake, Pottawatomie County Marion Reservoir, Marion County Melvern Outlet River Pond, Osage County (Added July 11) Melvern Outlet Swim Pond, Osage County (Added July 11) There are currently no bodies of water under a hazard status. A harmful algae bloom (HAB) may look like foam, scum, or paint floating on the water. It can appear blue, bright green, brown, or even red. Blooms can develop rapidly. Depending on the type of exposure, coming into contact with a HAB can cause rash, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, sore throat, and headaches. Toxins can be absorbed by ingestion, inhalation of aerosols, and skin contact. Avoid contact and keep pets away. Pet owners should be aware that animals that swim in or drink water affected by a HAB or eat dried algae along the shore may become seriously ill or die. Suspected HAB-related health incidents should be reported as soon as possible at When KDHE receives reports of potential algae blooms in Kansas lakes, it investigates publicly accessible bodies of water for blue-green algae. Based on credible field observation and sampling results, the KDHE will then issue a status level of warning, watch, or hazard. A hazard status indicates that an HAB is present and that extreme conditions exist. When a hazard is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken: Signage should be posted at all public access locations. It is recommended that either a portion of the lake or the entire lake or zone be closed to the public. In some cases, the adjacent land should be closed as well. Actual setback distances will be determined on a site-specific basis, if necessary. When partial closures (i.e., beach or cove) are issued, the remaining lake or zone area will carry a warning status. A warning status indicates that conditions are unsafe for human and pet exposure. Contact with the body of water should be avoided. When a warning is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken: Signage should be posted at all public access locations. Inhalation of spray or aerosols may be harmful. Lake water is not safe to drink for pets or livestock. Lake water, regardless of blue-green algae status, should never be consumed by humans. Water contact should be avoided. Fish may be eaten if they are rinsed with clean water and only the fillet portion is consumed, while all other parts are discarded. Do not allow pets to eat dried algae. If lake water contacts the skin, wash it with clean water as soon as possible. Avoid areas of visible algae accumulation. A watch status means that blue-green algae have been detected and a HAB is present or likely to develop. People are encouraged to avoid areas of algae accumulation and keep pets and livestock away from the water. During the watch status, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken: Signage should be posted at all public access locations. Water may be unsafe for humans/animals. Avoid areas of algae accumulation, and do not let people/pets eat dried algae or drink contaminated water. Swimming, wading, skiing, and jet skiing are discouraged near visible blooms. Boating and fishing are safe. However, inhalation of the spray may affect some individuals. Avoid direct contact with water, and wash with clean water after any contact. Clean fish thoroughly with potable water and eat fillet portions only. Advisories are lifted when cell densities and toxin concentrations dissipate to levels below the Watch thresholds. The water recreation season runs from April 1 to Oct. 31, as do the HAB response program's active operations. You can visit the KDHE website year-round to check the current advisory status for bodies of water in Kansas. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Officials take bold action in effort to slow spread of dangerous beetle: 'We'll never stop the insect'
South Dakota officials have added another county to a pest quarantine list as they try to slow the spread of the killer emerald ash borer. The Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR) expanded the ban on the movement of firewood to Grant County, Keloland News reported. Brookings, Minnehaha, Lincoln, Turner, and Union counties were already under the embargo. The beetle has been doing its worst in the cities of Brookings, Canton, Dakota Dunes, Milbank, and Sioux Falls, infesting and threatening millions of ash trees. Residents within 15 miles of Milbank were encouraged to contact a commercial applicator to save their trees, the TV station noted. John Ball, DANR forest health specialist, said the insect could survive in a felled tree for a year, meaning cutting down affected trees is not a solution by itself. "We'll never stop the insect, but the longer we can slow it moving from county to county, that buys more time for communities to prepare for it," Ball told Keloland News. The outlet said it is forbidden to transport firewood and ash materials outside of the quarantined counties for one year. Untreated firewood has been prohibited from entering South Dakota from states to the east, as well as where the emerald ash borer has been found. "Then we're able to prevent the spread as best we can by limiting essentially the firewood and other regulated articles, such as ash nursery stock, ash logs, ash lumber, ash chips or mulch, wood packing material," Brenda Sievers, DANR plant industry program manager, told Keloland News. The invasive species was found in the United States in 2002 and South Dakota in 2018. It is damaging and killing perhaps billions of trees throughout the Eastern U.S. and Canada. The emerald ash borer, originally from China, lays eggs on the bark of ash trees. After hatching, larvae burrow into the tree to feed, cutting off the trees' conveyance of nutrients and causing quick dieoffs. When the young become adults, they exit the trees, leaving D-shaped holes. Researchers have found that ash trees in the Western U.S. have a genetic variation that could protect them from the beetle, which kills 90% of the trees it infects. An Oregon ash in the southern part of the state has proved more resilient than other species to the emerald ash borer as well as higher temperatures, offering hope that not only the trees can be saved but also ecosystems and other species, including fish, that rely on the protection, such as shade, provided by the plant. Should the government be able to control how we heat our homes? Definitely Only if it saves money I'm not sure No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. This shows the importance of mitigating the spread of invasive species. The state Department of Agriculture advises that small ash trees should be cut down before they are infested, while larger trees should be treated with insecticide. Parasitoid wasps, which prey on the beetles, have also proved helpful. "We've certainly slowed the spread in South Dakota," Ball told Keloland News. "Not only do the quarantines work, but we both appreciate the fact that South Dakotans are actually following the quarantine and not moving firewood." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Officials declare emergency as wildfire rips through over 20,000 acres of US land: 'Danger and destruction'
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is taking the necessary steps to combat the latest extreme weather event in the state. As detailed by the Santa Fe New Mexican, Grisham declared an emergency in Grant County after a devastating wildfire that has "burned more than 24,000 acres north of Silver City." Known as the Trout Fire, the blaze has been burning since June 12 but is at least 41% contained and was ruled to have been caused by lightning. Grisham's declaration also authorized $750,000 in emergency response spending, which includes the deployment of the New Mexico National Guard. The Federal Emergency Management Agency also sent Grisham a Fire Management Assistance Grant, which the state can use to request "additional firefighting crews, fire engines, air support, sheltering assistance and personnel from federal or other entities," per the Santa Fe New Mexican. "New Mexicans are all too familiar with the devastation that comes from wildfires that bring danger and destruction to everything in their paths," Grisham said in a news release, per the Santa Fe New Mexican. "I appreciate our federal partners for taking this threat seriously and for doing their part in supporting the responders who are working their hardest to protect the community." As temperatures rise during the summer months, many areas are bracing for a difficult wildfire season, and a warming climate makes these disasters even more devastating. Rising global temperatures have caused wildfires to happen more frequently and persist for longer. In addition to the destruction caused by the Trout Fire, New Mexico residents are facing a potentially dangerous situation from the smoke polluting the air. This can cause respiratory issues and exacerbate health conditions such as asthma. Before Gov. Grisham's emergency declaration, New Mexico health and environment officials issued a smoke advisory for Grant and Catron counties due to the poor air quality caused by the Trout Fire and the Buck Fire, which has been burning near Aragon. The state's Department of Health and Environment Department warned that air quality as far south as Las Cruces could be affected by the ongoing blazes. "As smoke from the Trout and Buck fires affects communities in Grant and Catron counties, we urge residents to stay alert and take steps to protect their health," Cindy Hollenberg, Air Quality Bureau chief for the Environment Department, said in a release, per the Santa Fe New Mexican. Dr. Chelsea Langer, bureau chief of the state Department of Health's Environmental Health Epidemiology Bureau, advised residents in fire- and smoke-affected areas to limit outdoor activities and take other steps to protect their health. The Santa Fe New Mexican explained that low visibility indicates air quality is "unhealthy for young children, adults over age 65, pregnant women, and people with heart or lung diseases, asthma or other respiratory illness." If you're in an area susceptible to wildfires, it's important to stay informed about critical climate issues and take local action. It's crucial to stay inside during times of poor air quality, but if you have to go outside, wearing masks like N95 or P100 can help protect you from breathing in smoke particles. Air purifiers can further improve your indoor air quality by capturing harmful particles. Protecting your health and the health of your loved ones should be the No. 1 priority during wildfire events. Do you worry about air pollution in and around your home? Yes — always Yes — often Yes — sometimes No — never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
3 killed after severe weather strike North Dakota
Extensive damage has been reported in North Dakota after a derecho swept through the Upper Plains on Friday night. Three deaths in Grant County, North Dakota, have been reported as a result of the storms.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
Mattawa man drowns in irrigation canal
Jun. 11—MATTAWA — The body of a Mattawa man was discovered late Tuesday after he apparently drowned in an irrigation canal. The unidentified man, 30 years of age, was found in a canal near Road M Southwest and Road 24 Southwest, about 7 miles west of Mattawa, according to a release from the Grant County Sheriff's Office. Kyle Foreman, GCSO public information officer, said the man may have been working at the edge of the canal bank. His ATV was found on the canal road, still idling. The man was out on the job; his coworkers became concerned when he didn't return by about 2 p.m. Foreman said there was evidence he somehow ended up in the canal. "Maybe he slid or was on something that slid into the canal," Foreman said. An irrigation canal can look unthreatening, but it's a good idea to take precautions around them. "It can be misleading," he said. Depending on the demand for water, the current can be very swift, and the water is cold most of the irrigation season. Once someone ends up in a canal, it can be tough to get out because the banks are steep and can be slippery. In fact, it's a good idea to stay away from the bank altogether. "You can't take it for granted that the soil on the edges is stable enough to not cause you to fall in," Foreman said. Children should not be allowed to play along the canal bank, and pets should be kept away too, he said.
