New rules on when algae blooms trigger health advisories

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) — Oregon resort owners and lake managers are getting a little leeway when it comes to blue-green algae blooms that can trigger health advisories and drive away people and their recreation dollars.

State health officials will allow water managers to use tests to determine if such algae blooms in lakes and reservoirs have actually produced toxins — not all blooms do — instead of triggering advisories based on the size of the bloom.

No confirmed human illness has been tied directly to an algae outbreak in Oregon, the Medford Mail Tribune reported.

At least four dogs have died from toxins in water near the Umpqua River near Elkton, and researchers are looking into algae and toxins in that area.

The result of the new policy should be fewer don't-touch-the-water advisories and briefer durations for those that are issued, said Curtis Cude, who manages an algae bloom program for the Oregon Public Health Division.

"This is looking for actual exposure risk instead of the possible exposure risk," he said.

The toxin tests cost $400 to $600 and are now more available from more labs, Cude said. During a bloom, tests likely would be needed every other week to ensure toxin levels remain below unsafe levels, he said.

In Jackson County, an early bloom in 2010 at Willow Lake triggered an advisory that lasted 120 days, causing the county's recreation concessionaire to pull out of running the campground and cabins because of lack of visitors.

County officials have resumed operations there.

"If we could have an advisory lifted with a $500 test and have people come up to the lake, it definitely would be worth it," said county parks manager Steve Lambert.

Officials of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said they will stick with a more cautious approach for the moment. Agency officials say they don't want to muddy the message about avoiding algae-scummed water, and sampling might not represent what's happening throughout a reservoir.

Blue-green algae produce three different kinds of toxins. It happens when the algae die and dissipate. When the blooms subside, public-health rules require a clean bill of health confirmed by tests for algae cell counts and toxins before an advisory is lifted.

During advisories, people and pets are warned to avoid all water contact, but compliance is voluntary. Anglers are encouraged to practice catch-and-release fishing. Toxins cannot be filtered by standard camp filters, in-home filtering systems or by boiling the water.

The advisories are issued by the Oregon Public Health Division based on criteria established by the World Health Organization.

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Information from: Mail Tribune, http://www.mailtribune.com/

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press