A blue-green algae bloom has been found in parts of the Twin Valley Reservoir east of Stavely.

Alberta Health Services is urging residents in the area, as well as visitors, to take precautions, including avoiding all contact with blue-green algae blooms.

Anyone who does make contact with the algae should wash with tap water as soon as possible.

Swimming and wading, whether people or pets, is discouraged.

AHS also says don't feed whole fish or fish trimmings from the reservoir to pets and limit human consumption since fish can store toxins in their liver.  

As always, visitors and residents are reminded to never drink or cook with water directly from any untreated water source, including Twin Valley Reservoir, at any time.

Boiling the water won't remove the toxins produced by blue-green algae so an alternate source of drinking water should also be provided for pets and livestock.

People who come in contact with visible blue-green algae, or who ingest water containing blue-green algae, may experience skin irritation, rash, sore throat, sore red eyes, swollen lips, fever, nausea and vomiting and/or diarrhea. symptoms usually appear within one to three hours and resolve in one to two days. symptoms in children are often more pronounced; however, all humans are at risk of these symptoms.