One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Toxic Algae Bloom Has Turned Pyramid Lake A Noxious Green Hue
If you were hoping on finding a cool escape from the "heat dome" this weekend, go ahead and cross Pyramid Lake off your list: a bacterial algal bloom has made the water toxic.
As NBC L.A. notes, the lake "has taken on a greenish hue" (not unlike Nickelodeon slime in our opinion) and that warm temperatures, nutrients, sunlight, are all contributing factors in keeping the bloom alive. This particular toxin is produced by cyanobacteria, or blue-green algae.
While the Department of Water Resources said that it's safe to hang out near the water, it should *not* be used for cooking, drinking (even by dogs), and boaters should avoid running over "mats" of the algae in case it accidentally sprays.
According to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, at least three people have already been made sick by swimming in the toxic lake; perhaps because the L.A. County Department of Public Health failed to put up caution signs until July 12—weeks after toxic water was detected on June 28.
Last year, a dog died after a rafting trip on Northern California's Russian River due to toxic algal blooms.
The DPH reported that three people feel ill between June 17 and July 10, with symptoms including skin rashes, fatigue, and diarrhea. Sharyn Martinez said that after a day of jet skiing at Pyramid Lake earlier this month, "her 13-year-old son throw up everything he ate when they got home." During that time, no signs warning the public of even the potential of harmful algae were posted.
A Department of Water Resources said that the delay to notify the public with signs was in order to "determine the extent of the bloom and whether it was increasing or decreasing." But, as per the California Water Quality Monitoring Council, a caution sign still should have been posted upon receipt of the June 28 toxin analysis two days later warning the public that “harmful algae may be present."
Sponsored message
The California CyanoHAB Network says that during blooms of this "cyanobacteria" humans and animals should avoid contact with water "and in scum," and recommends that, "If one is going to consume fish from such waters, it is best to remove the internal organs." Noted!
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
