PSA - AUGUST 2020

🔺🔺No swimming at Thetis Lake Regional Park; people and pets advised not to enter the lake due to poisonous algae bloom; can be lethal to dogs🔺🔺

The CRD has issued a warning as of August 16th to keep individuals and pets from swimming at the popular Thetis Lake Regional Park due to a blue-green algae bloom.

The algae can produce cyanotoxins and Island Health is advising individuals of potential health ramifications. Nearby Prior Lake is also affected by the advisory.

Ingesting water with the algae can lead to headaches and abdominal pain in people, and lead to 🔺lethal liver damage in dogs🔺.

From the CRD: The algae usually produce a visible blue-green sheen, which appears as surface scum on the water. Not all blooms are easy to see and toxins can still be present in the water even if you cannot see a bloom. Blooms are unpredictable and may occur at any time.

These algae are known toxin producers. Ingesting water containing these cyanotoxins may cause a range of symptoms, including headaches and abdominal pain in humans, and can lead to lethal liver damage in dogs.