TULSA — Reports of blue-green algae at a cove on Grand Lake have been blown out of proportion, according to a business owner.
Doug Drown, who publishes a visitors’ map of the lake and surrounding area, called the KRMG newsroom to complain about what he believes are alarmist news stories that don’t accurately report the situation.
“We have 65,000 acres of water on Grand Lake, and one little cove - and one corner of one cove - has some algae growing,” Drown said Tuesday, “and GRDA is welcoming people to swim on Grand Lake. It’s not unhealthy.”
GRDA is the Grand River Dam Authority, a non-appropriated state agency funded through the generation of electricity and the sale of water to municipalities.
It manages two lakes, including Grand Lake, and did issue a statement about an algae bloom at Fly Creek Cove.
It reads in part: "The public advisory to avoid bodily contact with water in the Fly Creek area of Grand Lake remains in place. All other areas of Grand Lake are open, with no advisories in place. GRDA will continue to monitor the Fly Creek area on a daily basis, as long as conditions warrant."
The GRDA website says the lake has 46,500 “surface acres” of water, with some 1,300 miles of shoreline.
And while the lake is used for hydroelectric generation and water supply, recreation and tourism are what supports businesses in the area.
When people hear stories about algae in the lake, Drown says, they’re not always attuned to the nuances of the reporting.
“All they hear is that ‘you guys should stay out of the water,’” he said. “It’s not unhealthy, and it’s really unfortunate that they’re giving that impression.”
So for the record, there’s a small area of Fly Creek Cove that’s not recommended for swimming.
The rest of the lake does not present any health concerns.