There are quite a few people in Jewell County who know just exactly how the folks who use the Meade State Fishing Lake feel right now… helpless to do anything.

This past weekend officials from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks have shut down fishing, boating and all other water use at the southwestern Kansas Lake because of toxic levels in the water. The culprit – blue-green algae blooms.

Lovewell Lake in the Webber area was shut down on July 16th for the same reason.

At both lakes, the State Park areas remain open to campers and other visitors but contact with the water is prohibited and livestock can not be watered with water out of the lakes.

The water at Meade will be tested this week while the water at Lovewell was tested for the 3rd time this past Monday. Those results will be made public on Friday and determine whether Lovewell will open or remain closed at least another week.