Residents and visitors in Thurston County are advised to be cautious due to toxic algae blooms in Lake Lawrence and Clear Lake. An advisory from Thurston County Public Health revealed that water samples from Tuesday last week showed microcystin toxin levels far above state guidelines, with Lake Lawrence at 262 ug/L (the safety threshold is 8 ug/L) and Clear Lake at 33 ug/L. No anatoxins were found in either lake, as posted on the Thurston County website.
The health risks from this situation are serious, as microcystins are known liver toxins and possible carcinogens. The public is warned not to drink or come into contact with the affected water. These toxins can harm human health and also negatively affect livestock and pets if ingested. Officials emphasize that even though the lakes may appear clear, toxins can still be present, and they will continue weekly testing until levels are consistently below safety guidelines.
In response to the health advisory, several important recommendations have been made to protect the public. People should avoid swimming, wading, and water sports like windsurfing and waterskiing in the affected lakes. Residents are also advised to keep pets and livestock away from these waters to prevent toxin ingestion. For fishing, it’s recommended not to eat fish caught during the algae bloom and to steer clear of scummy areas while boating.
