The Upper Nicola Band and residents in the Nicola Lake area are urging the public to ‘Avoid all contact’ with algae blooms, more specifically in Nicola Lake and anywhere they may observe a similar bloom.
The algae blooms can be moved by weather and wind conditions causing the bloom to relocate at different places on the lake. The warning on the Upper Nicola Band website states, “Given the shifting nature of algae blooms and the ever-changing potential for toxicity from day to day, testing is not always reliable. Instead it is safest to assume the blooms may contain toxins and adhere to the precautions.”
Residents and travellers are being advised to not only avoid all contact with algae blooms but to avoid swimming (people or pets) in areas that algae is visible. Farmers and ranchers are being advised to block access to algae scum in the affected water for their livestock and provide another clean water source for their animals.
Reports of multiple puppies and dogs being brought into veterinarian clinics and posts from those clinics are also being shared on social media.
One such post on July 1 from Phases Veterinary Emergency Hospital in Kamloops that reads, “Urgent update! Over the weekend we have seen several suspected cases of Blue-Green Algae from the Nicola Lake region. This type of algae is highly toxic, potentially leading to death in a matter of hours. We have yet to confirm these cases, however, we recommend avoiding these areas and keeping pets out of the water.”
BC Parks has also issued warnings about algae blooms for pets and humans urging anyone or their pets who have come in contact with water that may be contaminated with cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) to seek immediate medical or veterinary advice. BC Parks provides a link to further information at: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/air-land-water/water/water-quality/algae-watch or members of the public that spot a suspected algae bloom are asked to notify the government via the Algae Watch page at:
