Toxic Algae Forces Texas Parks and Wildlife to Close Lake Colorado City

COLORADO CITY, TX – A toxic algae forced Texas officials to close down the Lake Colorado City State park.

According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife, effective immediately, the lake at the Lake Colorado City State Park will be closed due to the discovery of a toxic blue-green algae.

Blue-green algae occurs in the mid to late summer in lakes across the state of Texas. It occurs after heavy rainfalls early in the year followed by extremely hot temperatures later in the year.

The algae is toxic to the touch and can make you break out in a rash. Swallowing water containing blue-green algae/microcystin may cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, severe headaches, and fever.

"A lot of nutrients and debris has flown into the lake due to the earlier summer rains," said Lynn Wright, a biologist with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to KTXS. "It has just been perfect conditions for that type of algae to grow."

There is no time table set for when the park will reopen. Majority of cleanups take only a few weeks but large blooms could take months to get rid of.