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FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – Blue-Green algae found in San Luis Reservoir prompts DWR to urge public to avoid water contact with the bloom.
The Department of Water Resources is warning boaters and recreational users to avoid direct contact with or use of waters containing blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) in San Luis Reservoir in Merced County.
The recommendation is based on the potential health risks from the algae. Water sampled on June 19 at the Basalt Boat Launch contained approximately 10 micrograms per liter of microcystins, a level that prompts warning signs to be posted at the reservoir.
DWR personnel tested the water using field test strips, which provide faster results than laboratory testing. Water samples have been sent to a laboratory for additional analysis.
Bloom conditions can change rapidly, and wind and waves may move or concentrate the bloom into different regions of the reservoir. Warning signs have been posted at the Basalt Boat Launch, which is at the southeast corner of the reservoir.
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