FRESNO, CA (KMJ) High levels of toxic algae have been discovered in a river upstream where a California hiking family and their dog died under mysterious circumstances.
Jonathan Gerrish, 45, Ellen Chung, 30, their 1-year-old daughter and the family’s dog were found on Aug. 17, a few miles from where samples confirmed the presence of toxic algae blooms in the Merced River in the Sierra Forest.
“These algal blooms can produce toxins that can make people and pets extremely sick,” Elizabeth Meyer-Shields, a Bureau of Land Management field manager, said in a statement.
“We will continue to monitor for the algae’s presence and look forward to when the public can safely recreate in the Merced River.”
Official toxicology results are still pending.
(Courtesy: Rosanna Heaslett)
The federal agency closed campgrounds and recreation areas along the river, between the towns of Briceburg and Bagby, after receiving the results of the samples.
The couple is originally from San Francisco and had recently moved to Mariposa.
