Toxic algae at Southern California lakes could sink holiday plans

Ahead of Labor Day weekend, agencies across the state are testing lakes for toxic algae that could harm people and kill pets and other animals.

In Southern California this August, harmful algal blooms closed lakes in Yucaipa, and have led officials to advise against swimming in Pyramid Lake north of Santa Clarita, and Big Bear Lake. At Lake Elsinore, Mojave Narrows Regional Park near Victorville and at Glen Helen Regional Park in San Bernardino, visitors are told to stay away from algal blooms and not let pets in the water.

Toxic algae is being looked into as the possible killer of a Northern California family and their dog near Yosemite in August, though officials are waiting on toxicology results before making a determination. Toxic algae had been reported in the nearby Merced River.

“We do increased testing prior to the major holiday weekends during spring/summer due the increased recreational activity at many locations,” said Blair Robertson, public information officer for the State Water Board, which works to protect water quality and allocate surface water rights.

At Yucaipa Regional Park, water from Bottom Lake tested as part of an Aug. 27 pre-holiday assessment showed a “significant harmful algal bloom,” according to a state website. Toxins also showed up in results for the other two lakes at the park, and the decision was made to close the lakes and post warning signs.

The notices prohibit fishing, and contact with the water for people and pets. Visitors are also asked not to touch the scum on the shore, and to not eat fish and shellfish from the lakes.

Water from the lakes should not be drunk, and boiling and filtering will not make it safe, the notice says.

In people the toxins can cause skin rashes, eye irritation, diarrhea and vomiting. In animals the toxins can also lead to convulsions and death.

Though ducks were splashing around in the lakes on Monday, Aug. 30, the blooms of blue-green algae, also called cyanobacteria, can be fatal for them, too, Robertson said.

These toxic algae blooms happen every once in a while, said San Bernardino County parks spokeswoman Tammy Gann.

“The algae is cyclic when heat warms up the water, typically in summer and early fall,” she said.

The state has three advisory tiers, and Yucaipa Regional’s lakes are currently the only ones in Southern California in the red, or “danger” level.

Pyramid and Big Bear lakes are in the next highest tier, orange, or warning. That means no swimming or drinking the water, and pets should not be allowed in, but fish caught there can be eaten as long as anglers throw away the guts and clean the fillets with fresh water.

Glen Helen, Mojave Narrows and Lake Elsinore are in the yellow, or caution tier, which means visitors can swim, but should stay away from algae and scum. The water should not be drunk and pets should not be allowed in the water.

None of the three tiers allow visitors to eat shellfish from the affected lakes.

The state offers an updated map of current advisories at mywaterquality.ca.gov/habs.

Not all lakes are tested, though, so visitors should keep their eyes open.

The algae occurs naturally, according to the state’s website, but can cause harmful compounds. Blooms are easy to see when they form a green, blue, yellow, red or brown scum on the water surface. They are harder to detect when they float beneath the surface or on the bottom of a lake.

Stagnant water, sustained high temperatures, and increased nutrients from fertilizers or human or animal waste all contribute to harmful algal blooms.

Members of the public can report suspicious blooms or possible animal or human illness by calling 844-729-6466 or emailing CyanoHAB.Reports@waterboards.ca.gov.

For more information go parks.sbcounty.gov/algal-blooms-faqs.

CNN.com wire service contributed to this report.

Source: Orange County Register