Toxic blue green algae bloom on Lake Spokane latest outcome of warm, dry year
Since the middle of July blue green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms have been identified at various locations in the upper half of Lake Spokane. The blooms vary from day to day depending on wind and weather but are becoming denser. Galen Buterbaugh, Technical Advisor to the Lake Spokane Association, reports the blooms are worse in the morning when the wind is still. Samples collected on Monday, July 27th at Suncrest Park, indicated that the bloom did contain toxins. Warning signs have been posted at the Suncrest Park swimming beach.
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) recommends that people and pets stay out of the water where blue algae scum is present.
Blue-green algae form blooms in water with elevated nutrients and temperatures. Lake Spokane blooms typically do not form until September and have not been toxic for a number of years. This year’s warm weather and low stream flows are the likely cause for the blooms early arrival.
Blue-green algae are able to control their buoyancy, so they can appear on the water’s surface as a thin oily-looking film (like spilled paint), or the water will appear turbid when the algae are in the water column. Not all blue green algae blooms are toxic and the algae can have toxic and non-toxic strains, so a bloom that does not contain toxins one day may become toxic the next day and visa versa.
To learn more about blue-green algae, visit the following websites:
- Washington State Toxic Algae website:
- Department of Ecology website: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/plants/algae/publichealth/index.html