As summer approaches and temperatures rise, please remember that algae blooms can form on bodies of water in hot weather.
Some blooms can cause serious illness or death in pets, livestock and wildlife. These toxins can also make people sick and sometimes cause rashes or irritation. Never drink or cook with the affected water; neither boiling nor filtering water will remove these toxins. Fish caught in affected waters pose unknown health risks and so it is best not to eat them.
Not all blooms are harmful but you can't tell if an algae is toxic just by looking at it.
Don't go into water that looks foamy, scummy, thick like paint, pea-green, blue-green or brownish red. A good rule of thumb for you and your pet is: when in doubt, stay out!
While many popular water bodies in Oregon have health advisories issued when a blue-green algal bloom is discovered, there is no regulatory requirement to issue health advisories for contaminated water. The best thing you can do is learn what to look for.
Learn more at healthoregon.org/hab.
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