Toxic algae in Northern California’s Clear Lake affecting water
Blooms of noxious, blue-green algae in California’s second-largest freshwater lake have prompted Lake County officials to issue warnings against consuming the water in Clear Lake as toxin levels rise to a worrisome point. County, health, and tribal officials urged Lake County residents and tourists — and especially those who get their water from Clear Lake — to be extra vigilant when getting near the water, and to report any unusual medical symptoms to their doctors and the county. … Blue-green algae, which is technically cyanobacteria, occur in all freshwater and marine aquatic ecosystems, and are not harmful to humans or animals when their bacteria levels are low. But high nutrients and warm waters can exacerbate the growth of those organisms …