San Luis Reservoir in Merced County. DWR/2019
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Today, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) urged people to avoid physical contact with the water at San Luis Reservoir in Merced County until further notice and avoid eating fish from the lake due to the presence of blue-green algae.
DWR increased the advisory from warning to danger after detecting an increased amount of microcystins. Boating is allowed, but swimming and other water-contact recreation and sporting activities are not considered safe under the danger advisory announced today due to potential adverse health effects. O’Neill Forebay remains free from algal bloom advisories.
Advisories are based on the potential health risks from algae. Exposure to toxic blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, can cause eye irritation, allergic skin rash, mouth ulcers, vomiting, diarrhea, and cold- and flu-like symptoms. Advisory recommends keeping pets away from water since can be especially susceptible because they tend to drink while in the water and lick their fur afterwards.
Bloom conditions can change rapidly, and wind and waves may move or concentrate the bloom into different regions of the reservoir. The algal bloom can accumulate into mats, scum, or form foam at the surface and along the shoreline, and range in color from blue, green, white, or brown.
State guidelines on cyanobacteria and harmful algal blooms recommend the following precautions be taken in waters impacted by blue-green algae:
- Do not let pets and livestock drink the water, swim through algal blooms, scum, or mats, or lick their fur after going in the water. Rinse pets in clean water to remove algae from fur.
- Avoid wading, swimming, or jet or water skiing in water containing algae blooms, scum, or mats.
- Do not drink, cook, or wash dishes with untreated surface water from these areas under any circumstances. Common water purification techniques such as camping filters, tablets, and boiling do not remove toxins.
- Do not eat fish or shellfish from this water.
- Get medical treatment immediately if you think that you, a family member, friend, pet, or livestock might have been poisoned by blue-green algae toxins. Be sure to alert medical professionals to the possible contact with blue-green algae. Also, make sure to contact the local county public health department.
For more information, visit:
- California Department of Public Health
- State Water Resources Control Board
- CA Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
- US Environmental Protection Agency: CyanoHAB website
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Contact:
Maggie Macias, Information Officer, Public Affairs, Department of Water Resources
(916) 653-8743 | maggie.macias@water.ca.gov