Just as sunny skies and warm temps have people flocking to the water, yet another lake in Greater Victoria has been hit with a swimming advisory.
The Capital Regional District (CRD) issued a warning Sunday for lower Thetis Lake after detecting a blue-green algae bloom at the popular main beach area.
It’s the second advisory for Thetis this month—the first was issued back on July 7th.
The CRD, in consultation with Island Health, are asking people to avoid swimming or letting pets near the water. The algae can produce cyanotoxins, which are harmful to humans and potentially deadly to dogs. Even if the water looks clear, toxins may still be present.
The bloom may appear as a bluish-green surface scum, but not all blooms are visible. Symptoms from exposure can range from headaches and stomach pain to more severe effects in pets.
Advisories also remain in place for Prior Lake, which is in the same park, and for both Elk and Beaver Lakes in Saanich—no strangers to recurring water quality issues.
Meanwhile, Glen Lake in Langford is under a separate beach advisory due to high levels of E. coli. Island Health issued that notice on July 18th after a water sample showed 215 E. coli per 100 ml—above the threshold for safe swimming.
Three other beaches remain under advisories issued earlier this year, while six others are still flagged from last year or longer.
If you’re planning to hit the water this week, it’s worth checking the latest advisories from Island Health or the CRD before heading out.
