Summer Village of South Baptiste

Blue Green Algae Alert

August 8, 2025
ATHABASCA COUNTY – Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) has been identified in the waters of Baptiste Lake. Visitors to this lake are advised to take the following precautions:

Avoid all contact with cyanobacterial blooms. If contact occurs, wash with tap water as soon as possible.
Do not swim or wade or allow your pets to swim or wade in any areas where cyanobacteria is visible.
Do not feed whole fish or fish trimmings from this lake to your pets.
Consider limiting human consumption of whole fish and fish trimmings from this lake, as it is known
that fish may store toxins in their liver. (People can safely consume fish fillets from this lake).
As always, visitors and residents are reminded to never drink or cook with untreated water directly from any recreational body of water, including Baptiste Lake, at any time. Boiling of this water will not remove the toxins produced by cyanobacteria. An alternate source of drinking water should also be provided for pets and livestock while this advisory is active.
Cyanobacteria is naturally occurring and often becomes visible when weather conditions are calm. Appearing like scum, grass clippings, fuzz or globs on the surface of water, cyanobacteria can be blue-green, greenish-brown, brown and/or pinkish-red, and often smell musty or grassy.
People who come in contact with visible cyanobacteria or who ingest water containing cyanobacteria 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. Exposure to the bacteria may be fatal to pets.
Weather and wind conditions can cause algae blooms to move from one location in the lake to another. As such, this advisory will remain in effect for Baptiste Lake until further notice.
Please note waters of Baptiste Lake in which the cyanobacterial bloom is NOT visible can still be used for recreational purposes, even while this Health Advisory is in place.
If you suspect a problem related to cyanobacteria or if you require further information on health concerns and cyanobacteria, please call Health Link at 811. Additional information is also available online,
at www.ahs.ca/bga.
Alberta Health Services provides a range of healthcare services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Our mission is to provide excellent, patient-focused healthcare that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans. Our current focus is on reducing emergency department wait times, improving EMS response times, increasing access to surgeries, and improving patient flow.

FIRE Restriction in place

In accordance with Athabasca County Fire Services Bylaw 015-2023 section 8, a Fire Control Order is now in effect for lands within Athabasca County located outside the Forest Protection Area.Due to favorable conditions the Fire Ban is lifted, and a Fire Restriction is now in effect.Under this Restriction:

New fire permits will not be issued.
Existing fire permits will not be renewed.
The discharge Fireworks and Exploding Targets is prohibited.

For greater clarity, this Restriction does not include:

Fires in Bylaw compliant Fire Pits
Fires in Bylaw compliant Burn Barrels

Campfires, while still allowed, are only permitted in designed fire pits and must comply with conditions listed in Section 7 of the Fire Services Bylaw. Agricultural operators are encouraged to routinely check equipment and have fire extinguishers readily available..

The Summer Village of South Baptiste

The Summer Village of South Baptiste is a small municipality located approximately 170 KM north of Edmonton, Alberta on the South West shore of Baptiste Lake. Baptiste Lake is a medium-sized lake located within the County of Athabasca in Northern Alberta. South Baptiste is located approximately twenty kilometres west of the town of Athabasca.

Baptiste Lake has two basins joined by the Narrows. Both basins are similar in size; the deepest area of the south basin is approximately 28 m, whereas the north basin is shallow at about 16 m deep.

The lake was named after Baptiste Majeau, an early Metis settler in the area. The first permanent native settlement on Baptiste Lake was established in the 1880's by a group of people from Saskatchewan. They lived on long, narrow lake-front lots.
In the early 1900's farming had begun in the area surrounding the Lake, and by 1930 most of the land that was not already settled was available for homesteaders.

Baptiste Lake is a good setting for power boating, water skiing, swimming, fishing and canoeing. Snowmobiling, ice fishing, and cross-country skiing are enjoyed during the winter months. The area around the Lake is a conservationists paradise, with rolling hills and forests filled with wildlife including deer, moose, and many other birds and animals.

The Summer Village of South Baptiste is a combination of full time residents and part time enthusiasts who all share their love for the lake. The residents are proud of the serenity of the lake, and encourage all residents and visitors to take care of the lake they love.