BLUE GREEN ALGAE IS MORE BAD NEWS FOR LAKES

The State of California has recently released (June 2007) a Draft report titled Cyanobacteria in California Recreational Water Bodies. Cyanobacteria, aka blue-green algae, while common and naturally occurring, can be very dangerous- at least 46 species are known to be toxic to vertebrates.  Children and pets, because of their small body size, are particularly vulnerable to the toxins released by blue-green algal bloom. Since 2001, nine dogs who swam in blooms in Humboldt and Mendocino Counties died, some almost instantly.

There is a new awareness of the dangers posed by many types of blue-green algae, and the State of California is being very assertive in the collection and study of data. Many factors can contribute to algal blooms, including decreased water flow and decreased water mixing, elevated temperature, and the presence of excess nutrients. (source-Draft report). 

Our Serene Lakes could be particularly vulnerable to blooms (or scums) of types of blue-green algae if developers are permitted to draw off large quantities of water, leaving warm, shallow areas rimming the lake. This would destroy recreational opportunities, and threaten the drinking water supply. Certain species of blue-green algae release toxins, and the toxins cannot be destroyed by boiling, filtering, or chemical treatment- state advisories caution to not  even use toxin impacted water to wash dishes!  A further complication is caused by the fact that even when the bloom appears to have dissipated, the toxins can remain in the water, and can flow on to other bodies of water, posing a risk to both humans and wildlife. Testing for toxins is complex and expensive, as there are currently very few labs running testing programs.

If developers are permitted to take the water that now flows to Serena Creek, Serena Creek may become a potential breeding ground for blue-green algae, and toxins could flow to the North Fork of the American River, endangering the trout which inhabit stream and river. Further, the artificial lakes proposed by the developers could become,  when shallow from water drawdown, scummy, toxic, ponds.