FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Assistant Public Works Director Cap Aubrey, (760) 878-0207

Diaz Lake to be Reopened to Water-Related Activities

The County of Inyo will reopen Diaz Lake for water-related activities on Tuesday, October 1. The lake was closed and the public prohibited from entering the water on August 28 after the discovery of harmful blue-green algae blooms. The campground and other facilities remained open.

The Inyo County Department of Environmental Health has determined that Diaz Lake can be re-opened after recent water quality testing results that indicate the algae bloom has reduced to a Tier 1 CAUTION level. This caution level can still be hazardous for pets that may drink water from the lake and recommendations remain in place to wash off with clean water after entering the lake. The conditions at Diaz Lake are being closely monitored and the public will be notified when the risk has fully subsided.

Blue-green algae – a common cyanobacterium – exist all over the world and are generally harmless unless certain conditions, such as increasingly warmer waters, cause a rapid accumulation of blooms in a water body. The algae produce toxins that can be harmful to humans and animals when they come into contact with the affected water.

In humans, exposure to blue-green algae can cause the following health effects if they touch, swallow, or inhale airborne droplets of the water: stomach pain, rash, headaches, coughing, watery eyes, nose irritation, and sore throat. According to the Center for Disease Control, more serious symptoms such as liver damage, seizure, and irregular heartbeat can occur.

Animals – including pets, livestock, and wildlife – can fall extremely ill or die if they swim in or consume large amounts of contaminated water. Symptoms include vomiting, loss of energy, stumbling and falling, and seizures.

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