Beach monitoring resumes this week at Kirkman’s Cove, Iron Horse Trail Lake, and Duck Creek's swimming beaches for the season. Water samples are collected on Monday and sent to our friends at Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy where they test for toxic algae and E.Coli. If toxins are present at dangerous levels beach signs will be flipped to advise lake-goers of the conditions. As of right now, Wirth Brothers Lake is low enough we will not be sampling it weekly for toxic algae and E.coli.

The Nemaha NRD would like to remind everyone going to our recreation areas to monitor conditions of the water prior to any full body contact activities or allowing pets to drink or get in the water. If the water looks like someone dumped a can of green paint in it, stay out! The weekly samples are a good precautionary measure to alert people, but toxic algae conditions can rapidly change during the hot, dry summer months. For more information about beach monitoring or what to look for to protect yourselves and your pets please visit Nebraska Department of Environment & Energy's website by clicking HERE.