Second suspected blue-green algae bloom seen in Belwood lake
Posted Oct 17, 2026 08:14:19 AM.
The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) is warning the public about a blue-green algae bloom that was observed in the Belwood Lake Reservoir.
Just upstream of the Wellington Road 26 bridge, this is the second time this year that the potentially toxic algae has been seen at Belwood Lake. On Sept. 1, the GRCA released a warning in the same area after the algae was spotted near a boat launch.
Though, Belwood Lake isn’t the only body of water in the area where the blue-green algae blooms have been reported. The Guelph Lake Conservation Area reservoir, and the Shade’s Mills Conservation Area reservoir also received notices from the GRCA this year.
In their news release, the GRCA says that once the algae is seen in a body of water, warnings will stay in effect for the rest of the season.
“Once a blue-green algae bloom has been observed, toxins may still be present in the water, even when a bloom is no longer visible. For this reason, these previous notices will remain in effect for the remainder of the season.”
How to stay safe
The GRCA has released a list to help residents stay safe in areas with blue-green algae:
- Keep children away from the algae
- Avoid contact with the algae
- Don’t eat fish from the lake
- Don’t use the water for drinking or any other purpose
- Boating is allowed, where permitted, but boaters and recreational users should avoid touching the algae
- Don’t swim in areas where you see scum, or it is accumulating along the shoreline
When blooming, the blue-green algae can look like spilled paint in the water and will smell like fresh cut grass. The GRCA adds that older blooms can smell like rotten garbage, and that heavy rainfall causes the algae to grow rapidly.
The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks, and the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health Unit have been notified about the algae. The GRCA says that anyone who experiences symptoms after coming into contact with the blue-green algae should contact their physician.
To learn more about the blue-green algae warnings from the Grand River Conservation Authority, click here.
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