PORT TOWNSEND — The status of Jefferson County’s Anderson, Gibbs and Leland lakes remains bleak since toxic blue-green algae keeps them closed to swimming and fishing.
Anderson Lake, like last summer, has shifted in its primary toxic makeup from anabaena, a potentially deadly neurotoxin, to mycrosystin, said Neil Harrington, county water quality manager for the Jefferson County Public Health Department.
“Anderson has still consistently been undergoing a pretty major algal bloom,” Harrington said Friday after receiving results from weekly tests of water samples.
“I want another week’s worth of data before I make any changes.”
Harrington has said he must see two weeks of safe, lower toxin levels before upgrading any of the lakes from their existing health “warning” status that closes them to recreation.
Recreation in Anderson Lake State Park — such as hiking, biking and horseback riding, is still allowed — while Anderson Lake itself is closed to recreation.
Gibbs Lake and Lake Leland remain closed to swimming while other recreational activities, including catch-and-release fishing, are allowed, public health officials said.
No one should drink water or eat fish from Anderson, Gibbs or Leland lakes, the health department said.
Anderson Lake, between Port Hadlock and Chimacum, was closed April 25, when fishing season opened. Lake Leland, north of Quilcene, was also closed to swimming and fishing in mid-May.
Both lakes continue to have high levels of toxic blooms.
Blue-green algae of the genera anabaena and microcystis have the potential to produce toxins that affect the liver and nervous system.
Jefferson County Public Health is continuing seasonal sampling of recreational lakes for toxic blue-green algae.
The public health department has been collecting and submitting water quality/algae samples from Lake Leland, Anderson Lake and Gibbs Lake to determine what species of algae are present and at what concentration since 2006.
Anderson Lake, off Anderson Lake Road, was closed in June 2006 after two dogs were killed from ingesting the water and one nearly died after experiencing a seizure.
Because of the risk of exposure to the toxin, Washington State Parks, which manages Anderson Lake State Park, has consulted with county Public Health to keep the lake in the state park closed to recreation.
Other local lakes are sampled if they appear to be undergoing a blue-green algae bloom.
Some lakes clear
Sandy Shore Lake, from which the county is also taking water samples for weekly lab testing, remains clear.
So do Crocker, Teal and Tarboo lakes.
The health department this year also is collecting samples for nutrient analyses and physical data to determine possible causes for the blue-green algae blooms in county lakes.
The study is funded by a grant from the state Department of Ecology.
Water samples are taken from the lakes on Mondays and tested at King County Environmental Labs.
Jefferson County Public Health maintains an updated database of lake monitoring information at www.jeffersoncountypublic health.org/.
The department can be reached at 360-385-9400.
Lake samples are not tested in Clallam County, where health officers visually monitor lakes for signs of algae bloom. No cautions or warnings have been issued in Clallam County.
Algae blooms in Clallam County lakes should be reported to Clallam County Department of Health and Human Services environmental health division at 360-417-2258.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
