McNary National Wildlife Refuge visitors warned of toxic algae bloom
By Dan Thesman on Wednesday, September 7th, 2022 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
BURBANK – Repeat testing in sloughs 3 and 4 at the McNary National Wildlife Refuge continues to show elevated levels of cyanobacteria, otherwise known as blue-green algae. In early August, the toxic algae bloom was discovered, and these areas were closed. Due to elevated levels, these areas will remain closed.
Cyanobacteria can be harmful to people and fatal to animals. In its toxic form, blue-green algae can kill pets, waterfowl, and other animals. It can also cause serious illness to humans. People and animals can be exposed to cyanotoxins by skin contact with water containing toxins while swimming or doing other activities in the water, drinking water containing toxins, breathing in tiny droplets in the air that contain toxins, or eating fish or shellfish that contain toxins. Exposure may result in stomach pain, headache, neurological symptoms like muscle weakness and dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, and liver damage.
McNary visitors to sloughs 3 and 4 should not swim, fish, boat, drink the water or engage in any other water contact activities until further testing shows the toxins have reduced to safe levels.
