On October 1st, the Capital Regional District (CRD) sent out a blue-green algae bloom advisory for Thetis Lake.
The advisory warns swimmers and dog owners to avoid contact with blue-green algae and to keep animals on a leash to prevent them from drinking or swimming in the lake until the advisory is lifted.
Blue-green algae produce a visible blue-green sheen, which can appear on the water’s surface as a scum; however, some blooms are harder to see than others.
This algae produces toxins, and ingesting the water containing these cyanotoxins may cause symptoms such as headaches and abdominal pain in humans, and lethal liver damage to dogs.
In addition to Thetis Lake, Durrance Lake, Beaver Lake and Prior Lake are also under blue-green algae advisories.
