Sherman -- You will be hard-pressed to find another county in Texas where local officials know more about blue-green algae than Grayson County.

And there's a good reason for that.

No county in Texas feels like it has been harder hit by frightening health warnings at the federal level because of elevated levels of blue-green algae brought on by one of the hottest and driest summers on record.

A large crowd filled the east courtroom of the Grayson County Courthouse Wednesday morning to learn more about county officials' response to Tulsa District Corps of Engineers concerns about blue-green algae at Lake Texoma.

Lake Texoma is currently listed under a lake-wide advisory by the Corps, which means water contact is discouraged. More tests will be conducted in February.

Blue-green algae are naturally occurring microorganisms prevalent around the globe that produce energy via photosynthesis. A hot, dry summer in North Texas resulted in elevated water temperatures and very little inflow into the lake. That combination triggered a large algae bloom and caused Tulsa District Corp of Engineers to issue first an advisory, followed by a warning that contact with water in the lake posed health risks, and then back to an advisory.

The onset of cool temperatures in December and an influx of fresh water following heavy rains in January have Grayson County officials confident that algae levels in Lake Texoma are back to normal.

"I want to open this press conference by saying Lake Texoma is back in business," Grayson County Judge Drue Bynum proclaimed emphatically as applause broke out in the courtroom.

Grayson County Judge Drue Bynum

Lake Texoma is a powerful economic engine and the implications of this summer's algae scare went far beyond the hundreds of people who directly depend on the lake for their livelihood or even the 7-8 million people who visit Lake Texoma for recreational activities. 

Almost every business in the Texoma Region was adversely affected to some degree by health concerns associated with high levels of algae.  One local realtor said that every potential real estate buyer looking at property near Lake Texoma this summer opened the conversation with one question: "What about the algae?"

 After checking with health professionals -- from local physicians to the Center for Disease Control in Greater Atlanta, Georgia -- Grayson County officials sound as though they are ready to start answering that question with a question.

"What about the algae?"

A panel consisting of Judge Bynum, Grayson County Health Department Director John Teel, local physician Dr. Jerry Bennett and members of Lake Texoma Association called a press conference Wednesday, February 1 to tell what they have collectively learned about cyanobacteria, commonly referred to as blue-green algae.

Bynum said it appears that Lake Texoma may be the only lake in Texas being regularly tested for blue-green algae, and all because of what the county judge considers "anecdotal evidence" gathered by the Corps.

Tulsa District Corps of Engineers ranges from southern Kansas, down through eastern Oklahoma and into part of North Texas. Local officials are concerned that, as the southern-most lake in the Tulsa District, Lake Texoma is likely to experience higher temperatures and therefore be prone to elevated blue-green algae levels when compared to other lakes in this District.

Even more troublesome, officials say, is the lack of evidence at the local level of detrimental health issues directly related to blue-green algae.

"Our department has not had a single report in 2011," stated Grayson County Health Department Director John Teel.

Grayson County Health Department Director John Teel

Mr. Teel said he also checked with Center for Disease Control, Texas Department of Health, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The biggest concern he found in his research was that TPWD will check blue-green algae levels after a large fish kill.

"Other than that, they [TPWD] don't do any monitoring," Teel reported.

Teel also checked with peers at various county health departments and failed to find any other county struggling with health warnings because of blue-green algae.

"I'm trying to paint a picture of how unknown this concern is outside of the Texoma area," the county health department director said.

Dr. Jerry Bennett also works with Grayson County Health Department and he has been researching this issue at area hospitals.

"We've been looking for any evidence of illness related to blue-green algae in our emergency rooms," Dr. Bennett noted.  "We found none -- none of our workers have reported anything related to this. The available evidence indicates we don't have a problem with blue-green algae."

Dr. Jerry Bennett

"My next step is to contact the Corps concerning the algae," remarked Judge Bynum. "Continue to test, but test for the right thing -- test for toxins. Now, that's a double-edged sword because if the Corps finds toxins, it could shut the lake down. But at least it would be for a valid reason. If we are going to spend your tax dollars for tests, test for the right reasons."

Bynum said there is a risk assessment for everything you do in life, whether it is driving a car, walking across a street or flying in an aircraft.

"Getting sick from blue-green algae doesn't even appear on the radar," he said.

The panel fielded questions from the audience and one man stated that Grayson County may very well have to put up billboards in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, as well as in Oklahoma City to help allay health concerns and erase this stigma in key population centers that once frequented Lake Texoma in large numbers.

Rick Lemon of Lake Texoma Association said there is much that area residents can do to repair the reputation Lake Texoma once enjoyed by using social media, emails and phone calls.

"It starts with you," said Mr. Lemon. "Start spreading the word."

Rick Lemon

"The idea I want to leave you with is this," Judge Bynum said in closing. "Lake Texoma is safe -- as safe as it has ever been. Lake Texoma is open for business."

As Wednesday's press conference gets underway, Grayson County Judge Drue Bynam holds a bottle of blue-green algae pills that are available at many area health stores.

"If nothing else, maybe we've got a new business," he remarked, tongue in cheek. "Maybe there's an entrepreneur who can take the idea and run with it."

At times during the press conference, tempers flared briefly as residents most affected by this issue spoke out.