August Scene - Flipbook - Page 35
Cyanobacteria bloom season is here: When in doubt, stay out
With summer here, Oregon agencies have begun their
annual monitoring of the
state’s lakes, rivers and reservoirs for the presence of toxic
cyanobacteria blooms.
Oregon Health Authority
(OHA) and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
(DEQ) have launched their
seasonal freshwater surveillance
activities, as increasing temperatures raise the risk of cyanobacteria harmful algae blooms
(cyanoHABs) in water bodies.
Cyanobacteria are beneficial bacteria found in all fresh
water worldwide, but they can
multiply into blooms under the
right conditions, such as warm
weather, sunlight, water temperature, nutrients and water
chemistry. Many blooms are
harmless, but some can produce
cyanotoxins that make people
and animals sick.
Linda Novitski, Ph.D., is the
recreational waters specialist
in the Environmental Public
Health Section at OHA’s Public
Health Division.
“When temperatures rise,
many people head to their favorite water bodies to cool off,
but those higher temperatures
can also promote toxic cyanobacteria growth,” Novitski said.
“Our goal is to inform people
about the risks of exposure
when recreating and reduce cases of illness due to cyanoHABs.”
Exposure to cyanotoxins occurs when water is swallowed
while swimming or when peo-
ple inhale water droplets during
high-speed activities such as
water-skiing or wakeboarding.
Symptoms of exposure to cyanotoxins include:
• Diarrhea
• Cramps
• Vomiting
• Numbness
• Dizziness and fainting
Although cyanotoxins are
not absorbed through the skin,
people with sensitive skin can
develop a red, raised rash when
wading, playing or swimming
in or around a bloom.
Children and pets are particularly sensitive to illness
because of their size and activity levels. Similarly, livestock
and wildlife can become ill
and die after drinking from
water bodies, troughs or other
sources affected by blooms and
potential toxins.
Dogs can get extremely ill
and even die within minutes
to hours of exposure to cyanotoxins by drinking the water,
licking their fur, or eating the
toxins from floating mats or
dried crust along the shore. It is
important to get a pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible if
they exhibit diarrhea, vomiting,
breathing problems, difficulty
walking or standing or loss of
appetite.
During cyanoHABs season,
DEQ and local partners collect
water samples at water bodies
around the state with heavy
recreational use, a history of
cyanobacteria blooms, or where
a bloom is visible. Samples are
sent to a laboratory for testing;
OHA analyzes the results and
decides if an advisory should
be issued.
Very few freshwater bodies
in Oregon are monitored for
cyanotoxins. For this reason, it
is important for people to carefully observe any water body
they choose to recreate in before
taking the plunge.
OHA recommends that everyone not swim or do highspeed boating in water that
is foamy, scummy, thick like
pea-green or blue-green paint,
or where brownish-red mats
are present. Additionally, since
blooms can wash up on the
shore, people should avoid areas
with algal mats that are either
attached, floating or stranded
on the shore.
Even then, looks can be deceiving. Certain blooms grow
on or near the bottom of water
bodies such as lakes and rivers.
While some blooms make and
release toxins into the water,
they don’t change how the surface of the water looks, making
it hard to see.
Community members looking for visual examples can
watch an explainer video on
blooms at OHA’s official YouTube channel. If you are unsure, follow OHA’s guidance
of “When in doubt, stay out.”
Open recreational areas where
blooms are confirmed can still
be enjoyed for activities such
as camping, hiking, biking,
picnicking and bird watching.
By being aware of signs of a
bloom and taking appropriate precautions to reduce or
eliminate exposure, people can
enjoy water activities such as canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and
boating if boat speeds do not
create excessive water spray. Fish
can be eaten if they are cleaned
with water from a clean water
source, and fat, skin, and organs
are removed before eating.
To learn if an advisory has
been issued or lifted for a specific water body, visit the Harmful
Algae Bloom website or call the
OHA Public Health Division
toll-free information line at
877-290-6767.
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AUGUST 2026 SUNRIVER SCENE
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