LELAND LAKE — A blue-green algae bloom found in this scenic lake north of Quilcene is far short of the deadly levels found in Anderson Lake since Memorial Day weekend, but enough to postpone Saturday’s annual Leland Lake Kids Fishing Derby.
The Leland tradition at the pier near the north entrance to the 100-acre lake will be scheduled again once the algae bloom has dissipated.
“The levels are rising to levels that are of concern,” said Mike McNickle, Jefferson County environmental health director, in a report Thursday to the county Board of Health.
While the levels are toxic, McNickle said his county Public Health and Doug Soehl, president of the sponsoring Jefferson County chapter of Trout Unlimited, decided it was best to postpone the derby.
Soehl said that protecting kids from the potentially toxic algae is more important.
The derby would be rescheduled when the lake “gets a clean bill of health,” Soehl said.
Water monitored
Jefferson County Public Health will continue to monitor and sample the lake to determine whether the potentially toxic algae are still present, in what amount and whether a toxin is present.
Jefferson County Public Health on Monday collected and submitted water quality-algae samples from Leland Lake to a lab in Tacoma to determine whether potentially toxic blue-green algae species — anabaena, microcystis and aphanizomenon — are present in the lake.
The lab reported that the species aphanizomenon is present in the lake at a level that is sufficient to recommend that people should avoid recreational contact with the water.
“It is a prudent move by Trout Unlimited, Jefferson County Parks and Recreation and Jefferson County Public Health to postpone the fish derby,” McNickle said.
“The derby can be rescheduled after the algae bloom and the potential toxins have dissipated and no longer pose a public health threat.”
Neil Harrington, who took water samples from the boat ramp area at Leland this week, posted a yellow warning sign late Thursday afternoon, cautioning lake users of the potential blue-green algae threat.
Other lakes, ponds
McNickle told the county Board of Health that his department was planning to work with the city of Port Townsend, Jefferson County Public Utility District and Washington State Parks to monitor their lakes and ponds.
Lord Lake and City Lake, major sources of Port Townsend city water, are not expected to be threatened by the algae bloom because millions of gallons of water are pulled from the reservoirs each day, McNickle said.
Anderson Lake, where two dogs died after drinking its waters, is on 70 acres in Anderson Lake State Park near Chimacum and Port Hadlock.
At least seven Jefferson and Clallam County residents have reported gastrointestinal illnesses from eating fish caught in Anderson Lake, McNickle said.
