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November 22, 2023
Contact: Jonathan Modie, 971-246-9139, PHD.Communications@oha.oregon.gov
Recreational use advisory lifted for Willow Creek Reservoir Nov. 22
PORTLAND, Ore.—Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has lifted the recreational use health advisory issued for Willow Creek Reservoir in Morrow County.
OHA issued the advisory Sept. 19, 2023.
Water monitoring has confirmed levels of cyanotoxins in Willow Creek Reservoir are below recreational guideline values for people. However, detected levels are still above OHA’s educational guideline values for dogs, so owners should keep their pets away from these areas.
OHA advises recreational visitors to stay alert to signs of cyanobacteria blooms. Blooms can develop and disappear on any water body at any time when conditions are favorable. Only a fraction of water bodies in Oregon are monitored for blooms and toxins, so it’s important for people to be familiar with signs of a bloom, exposures and symptoms by visiting OHA’s Cyanobacteria Harmful Algae Bloom website at http://www.healthoregon.org/hab.
When recreating, people – and especially small children and pets – should avoid areas where the water is foamy, scummy, thick like paint, pea-green or blue-green, or if thick brownish-red mats are visible or bright green clumps are suspended in the water. If you see these signs, avoid activities that cause you to swallow water or inhale droplets, such as swimming or high-speed water activities, and keep pets out of the area.
Cyanotoxins can still exist in clear water. When a bloom dies, toxins released may reach into clear water around the bloom. Blooms can be pushed into other areas, leaving behind the toxins released. There also are species of cyanobacteria that anchor themselves at the bottom of a water body, live in the sediment, or can grow on aquatic plants and release toxins into clear water.
For health information or to report an illness, contact OHA at 971-673-0482.
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