MONTEREY COUNTY — County of Monterey Public Works, Facilities and Parks will be posting “DANGER” level warnings at Lake San Antonio North and South Shores due to the recent detection of toxic blue-green algae.
The danger level posting will remain in place until additional test results indicate the lake is safe for recreation activities.
Prior to every major summer holiday weekend, water testing at Lake San Antonio in southern Monterey County is performed by the California Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board.
In anticipation of the July 4 holiday weekend, samples of Lake San Antonio North and South Shores surface water were collected June 21. The County received the test results June 28.
“Unfortunately, cyanotoxins (toxins produced by blue-green algae) were detected at both sampling locations, which requires that a ‘DANGER’ level warning to be issued for the entire lake,” the County stated in a news release.
The Regional Water Quality Control Board advises the following:
- Stay out of the water until further notice;
- Do not let pets and other animals drink or go into the water or go near the scum;
- Stay away from scum, and cloudy or discolored water;
- Do not eat fish or shellfish from this water; and
- Do not use this water for drinking or cooking. Boiling or filtering will not make the water safe.
For more information about harmful algae blooms, visit tinyurl.com/2974p2sb. Questions may be directed to County of Monterey Parks at 831-755-4895 or [email protected].
