Dillon off warning list

There is good news for visitors to Dillon State Park, Lake Loramie and Lake Hope. The Columbus Dispatch reported Tuesday that warning signs posted at those three lakes have been removed after two weeks of testing showed no signs of the nerve and liver toxins that can be produced by blue-green algae. State officials said the three lakes will continue to be closely monitored and warning signs could go back up if the toxins are detected.
Although those lakes have been cleared, the 32-acre lake at Mount Gilead State Park has been added to the list of places (now at 15) where visitors are being warned to keep contact with the water at a minimum.
Alum Creek State Park and Delaware State Park are on the list of warnings, but the bodies of water affected are not the main lakes, but rather ponds located within the parks.
When I was at Delaware last week, I did see an unusual patch of what looked like algae, but it was gray, not any of the blue-green shades associated with the algae people are on the lookout for. However, I don't know what it was.
For information on harmful algae blooms, check out this article from the Ohio Department of Health.
For pictures of both the dangerous blue-green algae and of common harmless algae, check out the link at the end of the article. There are also links to the Ohio EPA and ODNR informatin on blue-green algae.

Blue rock campground reopens
BLUE ROCK -- Good news for fans of Blue Rock State Park: Water is being trucked in and campers and park visitors are welcome once again to use Blue Rock State Park, located south of Zanesville near the Muskingum River, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).
According to the announcement I found on the ODNR website, the campground and store at the park are now being supplied with water which is being trucked in, replacing the normal water supply from Cutler Lake. Drinking water is available at water fountains and the shower house in the campground has been re-opened. The park’s water treatment station was recently shut down after an algae bloom was observed in the lake.
The next special event at the park is the Annual Fall Camp Out on Oct. 2.
For more information, contact the Dillon State Park Region office at 740-453-4377.