Algae & Local Problem Lakes

Algae Update 9/23/2022

With the recent algae bloom in Lake Anderson, LLVCC followed guidelines from the Department of Ecology and Mason County Health, and issued a caution advisory. Wait times for the statewide testing program have been long due to an increase in area blooms. We finally received our results back from a test done this week and can happily report that toxins were not found.

This bloom has been present for a few weeks, and they can often be volatile with toxicity changes. As such, we continue to advise people follow the rule of "when in doubt, stay out." Don't swim or let pets in the water if you see surface paint-like algae. https://ecology.wa.gov/Blog/Posts/April-2022/See-a-bloom-give-it-room

From The Department of Ecology:

While the precise triggers of harmful algae blooms are hard to pinpoint, there are still steps you can take to prevent lake health from worsening and reduce a lake’s chances of developing a bloom. Keep in mind, each lake has unique circumstances and needs, so not every prevention step can be applied to every lake.

• Clean up pet waste.

• Maintain your septic system to prevent leaks.

• Do not feed water fowl, like ducks and geese.

• Reduce or eliminate the use of fertilizers.

• Wash vehicles away from the lake or storm drains.

• Maintain native vegetation around the lake.

Many lakes not far from us are struggling with algae blooms. Causes are generally linked to shoreline degradation including native tree and vegetation removal which reduces shade and natural filtration. This results in warmer water temperatures, and far more run-off going in the lake taking silt, phosphorus and toxins with it.

• Long Lake, Port Orchard: Warning issued for Long Lake due to potentially toxic cyanobacteria (Aug 2022)

• Silver Lake, Yelm: Toxic algae caution advisory for Silver Lake (July 2022)

• Spanaway Lake, Spanaway: Toxic Algae Caution Advisory (Feb 2022)

• Palmer Lake, Key Peninsula: Toxic Algae Caution Advisory for Palmer Lake (Aug 2021)

• Palmer Lake, Key Peninsula: Palmer Lake closes because of toxic algae (Sept 2020)

• Pattison Lake, Lacey: Health Advisory in Effect for Pattison Lake due to Algae Bloom (Aug 2020)

• Lake Lawrence, Yelm: Health Advisory in Effect for Lake Lawrence due to Algae Bloom (Aug 2020)

• Palmer Lake, Key Peninsula: Toxic Algae Caution Advisory (Aug 2020)

• Long Lake, Port Orchard: Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) warning issued for Long Lake (July 2020)

• Spanaway Lake, Spanaway: Toxic Algae Caution Advisory (July 2020)

• Kitsap Lake, Bremerton: Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) warning issued for Kitsap Lake (June 2020)

• Lake Minterwood, Key Peninsula: Toxic Algae Found At Lake Minterwood, Health Department Say (July 2019)

• Anderson Lake, Port Townsend (not to be confused with our Lake Anderson):

  • • Most toxic lake in all of Washington (May 2019)

    • Dog dies after briefly splashing in Jefferson County's Anderson Lake (May 2019)

NOTE: Lake Anderson water quality is not actively monitored by the state or county, but is periodically tested by LLVCC volunteers.