Boating OK again on polluted Ohio lake

ST. MARYS, Ohio (AP) — Toxins from algae are at lower levels on Ohio’s largest inland lake, allowing officials to declare it safe for boating again.

However, Ohio agencies say people still should avoid direct contact with the water from Grand Lake St. Marys. That means no swimming or water skiing, and no eating fish caught in the lake, which sits between Toledo and Dayton.

Toxic, blue-green algae has plagued the 13,500-acre lake this summer, prompting an earlier, broad advisory that included a warning against recreational boating. The state issued a new, downgraded alert Thursday.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources says readings for a liver toxin have fallen sharply for two straight weeks.