If you were planning on swimming at Prior Lake, you’ll have to reroute.
On August 15th, the Capital Regional District (CRD) in consultation with Island Health, announced the presence of blue-green algae bloom at Prior Lake located in Thetis Lake Regional Park.
With the lake currently closed, CRD advised that visitors avoid swimming in these areas and to keep dogs away from the water to avoid risk of ingesting the blooms.
According to the release, the algae produces a visible blue-green sheen, which appears as surface scum on the water.
The algae is unpredictable and can bloom at any time. It’s worth noting that sometimes the blooms aren’t very easy to spot and toxins can still be present in the water even if you cannot see a bloom.
Drinking the water containing these cyanotoxins may cause a range of uncomfortable symptoms — including headaches and abdominal pain in humans, and can lead to lethal liver damage in dogs.
To keep yourself up to date on blue-green algae blooms, visit the CRD website.
The closure comes just a day after the body of a 49-year-old woman was recovered from the lake due to suspected drowning.
West Shore RCMP was initially called to the incident in the afternoon on Saturday August 12th, after witnesses advised seeing a woman go underwater and not re-emerge—her body was recovered by the BC RCMP Dive Team on Monday.
Police said the death does not appear to be suspicious at this time.
The lake will remain closed due to the algae until further notice.
