Webber ? A northern Kansas reservoir has been closed because of a large, toxic algae bloom.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks closed Lovewell Reservoir on Friday after finding the algae bloom with a concentration well above normal.

Don Snyder, Jewell County emergency management coordinator, said Lovewell Reservoir is off limits for the time being to fishing, swimming and boating.

The KDHE is also urging people to avoid contact with the lake and to avoid watering livestock with water from the lake or irrigation canals.

The Salina Journal reports that the bloom is expected to die off naturally and could be gone in a few days. It could also last up to a month.