prospectlakealgae8.12.19d.jpg

More testing of water in Prospect Lake shows high levels of microcystin, which can be produced by blue-green algae. The toxin is dangerous to people and animals.

The Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services Department closed the lake Friday, Aug. 9, after a preliminary test by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) returned positive for microcystin. Results received later that evening from a more precise test showed a microcystin level of 29.7 mcg/L, well above the state's closure level for recreation, which is 4 mcg/L.

Date Tested	Date Results Received	Microcystin level	Testing Agency
8/7/2019	8/9/2019	Absent	Colorado Springs Utilities
8/8/2019	8/9/2019	29.7 mcg/L	Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment
8/9/2019	8/9/2019	Present (<5 ppb)	Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will continue to test the lake weekly until it's determined to be safe.

More on Colorado Desk

• New Article Reveals Common Pricing Pitfalls in Flooring Projects — And How to Avoid Them
• Airbus Defence and Space and Omnitronics Sign MoU to Advance Interoperability in Critical Communications
• DOR Announces Tax Relief for Those Impacted by Southwestern Colorado Flooding
• White Glove Restoration Sends "Help in Boxes" to Support Communities in Ghana
• NASA Agreements, New Ocean Exploration Applications Added to Partnerships with Defiant Space Corp and Emtel Energy USA for Solar Tech Leader: $ASTI

Parks staff have posted signs throughout the park and along the shoreline. It's important for everyone to follow the posted information. Stay out of the water even if you don't see any algae.

• Edit view

‹ › x

The following activities are not allowed: swimming, bathing, paddle boarding, boating of any kind, water activities like tubing and water skiing. Pets are not allowed in the water.

Fishing areas will remain open, anglers should clean fish well and remove guts.

This "algae bloom" is naturally occurring. The algae levels will decline as part of the natural process. How long that will take it hard to determine. For updates go to the https://coloradosprings.gov/parks/page/memorial..." rel="nofollow external noopener">Memorial Park Page.

More on Colorado Desk
• Root + Ritual to Begin Pre-Orders December 1 for Handcrafted Crystal Terrariums in Denver
• Colorado: State is Contacting Thousands of Coloradans Who May Be Eligible For Unclaimed Tax Credits, Helping Coloradans Maximize Tax Refunds
• Deep Tissue Massage Denver | Expert Therapeutic & Sports Massage
• AI SEO Expert Chris Raulf to Present on Agentic AI and Micro SEO at DigiMarCon Denver 2025
• Chic and Secure: The Blue Luna Debuts Stylish Keychains with Purpose

Blue-green algae are a type of bacteria common in lakes throughout Colorado. When conditions are right, the algae multiplies quickly. Those conditions include sustained hot weather, stagnant water, and polluted stormwater runoff.

These conditions result in too much nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus in the water. This causes algae to grow faster than the ecosystem can handle. The increased algae harms water quality. It also decreases the amount of oxygen available to animals living in the water.

Additional Information
• More Information from the Colorado Department of Health and Environment.
• August 9, 2019 Press Release
• Memorial Park Information

Filed Under: Government, City

---

Show All News | Report Violation