Tove Tupper & Associated Press
June 16, 2009
TRAIL, Ore. -- For the fourth year in a row, health officials are warning about recreational activities in Lost Creek
Lake northeast of Medford.
The reservoir on the Rogue River is one of the most popular in Oregon. It has been plagued with blue-green algae blooms.
Biologists say the problem is different every year, making it hard to know exactly why it keeps coming back.
In 2008, the blue-green algae came out toward the end of the recreation season and lasted through part of winter. This year, it is blossoming at the start of the summer recreation season.
Health officials fear that high levels of the blue-green algae, known as anabaena flos-aquae, can produce toxins that can't be removed by boiling, filtering or treating the water. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says blue-green algae typically blooms in nutrient enriched water sources.
A county health official recommends against swimming. An advisory posted Monday says people should avoid swallowing the water, and people and animals should avoid skin contact. Exposure to the algae could produce symptoms of skin rash, numbness and tingling. The advisory does not mean the lake is closed, it just means certain recreation actives aren't recommended. Catch and release fishing is also recommended. Health officials advise not eating crayfish or shellfish, and if people decide to eat fish, they should remove skin, organs and fatty tissue.
"The toxins can get into fish. What we're recommending is if people do get into the lake and they are going to eat them, that they remove the skin, the fat, and all the organs because those are the areas that the toxins could get in the fish," says Environmental Health Program Manager Jackson Baures.
The Department of Human Services says boating, hiking, picnicking, and biking are all safe activities.
Meanwhile, businesses relying on the lake for tourism say this is bad news as the summer season kicks in.
Pat's Hand Tied Flies and Sunset on the Rogue Country Store say many of its customers stay clear of the lake once a health advisory goes out.
