If you’ve been waiting to swim Saanich’s Elk Lake without worrying about blue-green algae, the wait is over — but you might want to bring a raincoat.
The Capital Regional District (CRD) has officially lifted its blue-green algae advisory for the Saanich lake nearly 10 months after it was first posted on October 3rd, 2024.
The good news arrived on August 14th right as the weekend forecast calls for grey skies and showers.
While Elk Lake gets the all-clear, the same cannot be said for several other local swimming spots. Beaver Lake, right next door in Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park, remains under an advisory that has been in place since October 2023.
Prior Lake, the main beach at Lower Thetis Lake, and Willows Beach are also on the caution list, along with Bazan Bay Beach which joined the lineup on August 11th due to high enterococci levels.
Ross Bay Beach has been flagged since June 28th for the same bacteria, and Art Mann Park has held the region’s longest-running warning with a decade-long advisory for poor water quality dating back to January 2015.
According to the CRD, blue-green algae is naturally occurring and can bloom at any time, often triggered by nutrient-rich waters, warm temperatures, calm conditions and sunlight.
While blooms sometimes disappear in a few days, others like Elk Lake’s can linger for months.
CRD staff conduct visual inspections twice a week when blooms are detected, and water sampling continues until two consecutive tests come back safe before Island Health signs off on lifting an advisory.
Elk Lake might finally be ready for a dip but mother nature has decided it is perfect weather for admiring it from the shore.
