OHA lifts recreational use advisory for Powder Arm of Brownlee Reservoir

BAKER COUNTY — Cyanobacteria blooms are less of a concern when the water is frozen. The Oregon Health Authority has lifted their recreational use health advisory for the Powder River Arm of Brownlee Reservoir in Baker County that was issued in September. The agency confirmed that this portion of the reservoir is frozen. Even still, OHA asks visitors to be on the lookout for cyanobacteria blooms.

Read the OHA’s press release below:

(Press Release from the Oregon Health Authority)

Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has lifted the recreational use health advisory issued for Powder Arm of Brownlee Reservoir (Cundiff Slough) in Baker County.

OHA issued the advisory Sept. 5.

Communication with partners has confirmed that the Powder Arm of Brownlee Reservoir (Cundiff Slough) is frozen, so the recreational use health advisory has been lifted.

OHA advises recreational visitors to be alert to signs of cyanobacteria blooms. This is because blooms can develop and disappear on any water body at any time when bloom conditions are favorable.

Only a fraction of water bodies in Oregon are monitored for blooms and toxins, so it’s important for people to become familiar with signs of a bloom, exposures and symptoms by visiting OHA’s Cyanobacteria (Harmful Algae) Blooms website at http://www.healthoregon.org/hab.

When recreating, people, and especially small children, and pets should avoid areas where the water is foamy, scummy, thick like paint, pea-green or blue-green, or if thick brownish-red mats are visible or bright green clumps are suspended in the water.

If you see these signs, avoid activities that cause you to swallow water or inhale droplets, such as swimming or high-speed water activities, and keep pets out of the area.

Cyanotoxins can still exist in clear water. When a bloom dies, toxins released may reach into clear water around the bloom. Blooms can be pushed into other areas, leaving toxins behind. There also are species of cyanobacteria that anchor themselves at the bottom of a water body, live in the sediment, or can grow on aquatic plants and release toxins into clear water.

For health information or to report an illness, contact OHA at 971-673-0482, or visit OHA’s Cyanobacteria (Harmful Algae) Blooms website.

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