Residents are being urged to stay out of the water at Lower Thetis Lake.
The Capital Regional District says there is a blue-green algae bloom at Thetis Lake and that residents and their pets should avoid entering or swimming in the water until further notice. The CRD also says it is recommended that animals are kept on leashes when around Lower Thetis Lake — until the advisory is lifted — in order to prevent them from drinking the water as well.
“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,” the CRD said in a press release.
Ingesting water containing these toxins can cause various symptoms, including headaches and abdominal pain in humans and lethal liver damage in dogs.
Lower Thetis Lake is located in is located at Thetis Lake Regional Park in View Royal.
Algae blooms are not uncommon within the Greater Victoria region.
Visitors to the area are advised to check www.crd.bc.ca/alerts or @crd_bc on Twitter for updates on the status of this algae bloom.
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