Oregon Public Health Division Blue-green Algae Advisory

Oregon Department of Human Services sent this bulletin at 09/19/2013 09:48 AM PDT

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Health advisory for Dexter Reservoir in Lane Co. lifted today 9/19/2013. Sample data shoe cell counts and toxins no longer a health issue.

 

News release www.oregon.gov/OHA

September 19, 2013

Media contact: Jonathan Modie; 971-246-9139; jonathan.n.modie@state.or.us

Technical questions: Rebecca Hillwig; 971-673-0431; rebecca.hillwig@state.or.us

Health advisory lifted for Dexter Reservoir

Reduced blue-green algae levels confirmed

A health advisory issued July 3 for Dexter Reservoir – located 20 miles southeast of Eugene on Oregon Highway 58 in Lane County – was lifted today by the Oregon Health Authority. The advisory was prompted by high levels of blue-green algae found at the lake’s shoreline.

Water monitoring has confirmed reduced levels of blue-green algae and their toxins. These reduced levels are not likely to be harmful to humans and animals.

Oregon health officials advise people who recreate in Oregon water bodies to always be alert to signs of algae blooms. People and their pets should avoid contact if the water is foamy, scummy, thick like paint, pea-green, blue-green or brownish red in color, or if a thick mat of algae is visible in the water.

For local lake information regarding harmful algae blooms, contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at 541-942-5631. For drinking water information, contact your local drinking water treatment facility.

For health information, contact the Harmful Algae Bloom Surveillance (HABS) program at 971-673-0400. Also contact the Oregon Public Health toll-free information line at 1-877-290-6767. The Harmful Algae Bloom Surveillance program is funded through September 2013 by a grant from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

To learn more about the HABS program, health advisories and blue-green algae, and to stay up-to-date on all current health advisories, visit us at: http://www.healthoregon.org/hab.