Officials issued an alert for Prior Lake after toxic blue-green algae was discovered. Photo Credit: Google Maps.
The Capital Regional District is warning people against swimming at Prior Lake after water samples from there tested positive for the type of blue-green algae that produce cyanotoxins.
Visitors at the lake are asked to avoid swimming and to keep animals on a leash to prevent them from drinking or swimming in the lake until the CRD’s advisory has been lifted.
According to the CRD, the algae produces a visible blue-green sheen, which appears as surface scum. However, not all blooms are easy to see and toxins can still be present in the water. Blooms are unpredictable and may occur at any time.
Ingesting water with the cyanotoxins may cause headaches and abdominal pain in humans and lethal liver damage in dogs.
The lake is located at the north end of Thetis Lake Regional Park. The CRD said there are no signs of blue-green algae at Upper or Lower Thetis Lake.
Alexa Huffman
