Lake Water Quality

Jefferson County Lake Monitoring

Current Lake Status:

Jefferson County Public Health has begun seasonal sampling of recreational lakes for toxic blue green algae and will continue throughout the summer.

Results for Anderson Lake show high concentrations of blue green algae and the neurotoxin anatoxin-a. In addition lab results show that potentially toxic blue-green algae are present in Lake Leland and Gibbs Lake at concentrations that warrant a health warning.

Anderson Lake has a dense, scum forming bloom, made up predominately fo blue green algae of the genera Microcystin and Anabaena. Testing shows that this bloom is producing anatoxin-a, a potent neurotoxin. Because of the risk of exposure to this toxin, State Parks, in consultation with JCPH, has decided not to open the park for fishing this Saturday, April 25th. Other non-lake orientated recreation such as hiking, horseback riding and biking will be allowed at Anderson Laek State Park.

Microcystis can produce microcystin toxin, Anabaena can produce microcystin, anatoxin-a, anatoxin-a(S), and saxitoxin, Aphanizomenon can produce anatoxin-a, cylindrospermopsin and saxitoxin. Anatoxin has been detected in Anderson Lake and Gibbs Lake, and microsystin toxin bas been found in Lake Leland. 

A "Caution" status means that the lake has moderate levels of potentially-toxic blue-green algae species (between 30,000 and 100,000 cells per milliliter of water). Recreation use is OK, but please use the following cautions:

• Do not drink lake water. Boiling, filtering, and treating will not destroy the toxin.
• Keep small children and pets out of the water. Smaller bodies are more susceptible to the toxin, so what's OK for an adult could harm a small child or animal.
• Avoid visible scums. Algae can concentrate in bright greenish patches or bands, sometimes looking like a paint spill. These scums can have over a thousand times as much algae.
• Clean fish, discard organs and skin. the toxins can concentrate in skin and organs, especially the liver.
• People with liver problems, such as chronic hepatitis, should exercise additional caution.

  A "Warning" status means that the lake has high levels of potentially-toxic blue-green algae (over 100,000 cells per milliliter of water). Toxin levels may exceed safe limits, so we advise the following cautions:

• Do not drink lake water. Boiling, filtering, and treating will not destroy the toxin.
• Avoid visible scums. Algae can concentrate in bright greenish patches or bands, sometimes looking like a paint spill. These scums can have over a thousand times as much algae.
• Do not swim or get water in mouth or nose. Toxins can be absorbed if you swallow the water, and also through the mucous membranes of the mouth and nose.
• Do not eat fish from this lake. There is some evidence that toxins can build up in the flesh as well as the organs.
• Small children and people with liver problems such as chronic hepatitis, are most at risk.

Recommendations for persons who have been exposed to water containing blue-green algae:

• If you do swim in wter that might have blue-green algae, rinse off with fresh water as soon as possible. Payparticular attention under bathing suit areas.
• If pets (especially dogs) swim in scummy water, rinse them off immediately--do not let them lick the algae (and toxins) off their fur. Pay attention to cleaning their fur when you rinse them off. Use clean water to rinse them.
• Watch for symptoms and report them to your health care provider or Poison Center at 1 (800) 222-1222.

Types of illnesses people and animals can get from exposure to blue-green algae:

• Getting it on the skin may give people a rash, haves, or skin blisters (especially on the lips and under swimsuits).
• Inhaling water droplets from irrigation or water-related recreational activities can cause runny eyes and nose, a sore throat, asthma-like symptoms, or allergic reactions.
• Swallowing water that has blue-green algae toxins in it can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
• Liver problems:  Symptoms of liver poisoning may take hours or days to show up in people or animals. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting.
• Nerve problems: These symptoms can appear within 15 to 20 minutes after exposure. People may have num lips, tingling fingers and toes, or they may feel dizzy. Dogs may have salivation, weakness, staggering, difficulty breathing, convulsions, and death.

Follow this link for the Physician/Provider fact sheet.

Follow this link to go to the WA Department of Health's Blue-Green Algae website.

Follow this link to go to the WA Department of Ecology's Lakes website.