Residents in Sleepy Eye are being asked to tell their neighbors to not mow their grass into the streets in order to help stop a smelly, toxic algae bloom that’s closed down the city’s lake.

“We get it — awkward conversations aren’t fun. But neither is canceling events, closing beaches, or disappointing kids and visitors,” the Sleepy Eye Area Chamber of Commerce said in a post last week.

“Remind them it’s not just grass — it’s what could cost us our lake,” the post said.

The beach at Sleepy Eye Lake has been closed since July 29, the second time this year, because of a blue-green algae bloom.

Cyanobacteria outbreaks — also called blue-green algae blooms — have been known to kill pet dogs and sicken children, who are more vulnerable to the toxins.

These outbreaks have been increasing in nearly every part of the country over the last 20 years.