Toxic Algae Found in Moses Lake

The Grant County Health District says there's toxic blue-green algae in the water of Moses Lake.

The Moses Lake Irrigation District found the algae in samples taken last week from Connelly Park.

The algae produce toxins which can cause serious illness in people, pets, and livestock.

The Health Department is advising people to avoid all contact with the water in Moses Lake because toxins can move around as quickly as hour to hour depending on winds and currents.

Grant County Health District Environmental Health Manager Stephanie Shopbell says its difficult to determine exactly where the algae will be at any given time.

“We would like to remind folks that sampling only provides a snapshot in time of conditions present at the time the sampling took place," said Shopbell.  "We know the public would like to know what is present in their community lake, but the reality is that we don’t have enough data, staff, or surveillance sampling to know what is always present in all parts of the lake. The warning advisory will remain in effect until toxins are no longer detected."

The Health District says the toxins in the newly spotted algae are not same kind of toxin suspected in the dog death in Grant County earlier this year after exposure to the Columbia River near Desert Aire.

The District is making the following recommendations.

• Avoid all contact with Moses Lake water areas, including recreational water activities (skiing, wakeboarding, etc.)
• Do not drink the lake water
• Keep all pets & livestock away from the lake water
• Clean fish caught in Moses Lake well and discard remains