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Toxic algae warning issued for Prior Lake

The Capital Regional District is advising visitors to Thetis Lake Regional Park to avoid swimming in Prior Lake and keep animals out of the water due to toxic algae that can be fatal for dogs.

The Capital Regional District is advising visitors to Thetis Lake Regional Park to avoid swimming in Prior Lake and keep animals out of the water due to toxic algae that can be fatal for dogs.

The CRD said there is a visible bloom of blue-green algae in the lake. The algae can produce toxins that when ingested can cause headaches and abdominal pain in people and lethal liver damage in dogs.

Visitors to the park are advised to keep pets on a leash to prevent them from drinking or swimming in the lake until the advisory is lifted.

The algae produce a blue-green sheen that looks like surface scum on the water, but not all blooms are easy to see, and toxins can be present even if a bloom isn’t obvious, the CRD said.

The CRD will alert the public on their website when the advisory is lifted.

crd.bc.ca/about/alerts-notices