Document text
CLEAR Temp: 94 °F Wind: WNW at 5 mph Saturday, September 27, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend August 12, 2003 Diamond Lake restrictions lifted; water sports resume By MARK FREEMAN Mail Tribune Water skiers can zip across Diamond Lake beginning at noon today, six weeks after water-quality problems closed the lake to human contact. Levels of a toxic algae dropped dramatically last week at the lake in southeastern Douglas County, prompting county health officials and the Umpqua National Forest to lift the water-contact restrictions, Umpqua Forest spokeswoman Rhonda Buxton said Monday. "I think I’m going to feel very good at noon," said Steve Koch, general manager of the Diamond Lake Resort, which is the hub of the recreation area there. "It’s been a little discouraging these past six weeks." Water skiing, swimming and wading have been banned since July 1 because of an outbreak of blue-green Anabaena flos-aquae algae. Advertisement The algae produces toxins that can cause numbness in people and can be fatal in dogs. There were no known cases of human sickness in the three summers of the lake’s algae blooms. The blooms occur because millions of tui chubs eat the zooplankton that historically keeps the algae levels in check. Tui chub were illegally introduced into the lake in the early 1990s, likely by a fisherman using them as bait. The algae release toxins, primarily when it dies. The blooms appeared to die off more than a week ago, and water samples taken Friday showed the second straight test of healthy algae levels, Buxton said. The blooms turns the lake’s traditionally blue water into a fluorescent green. Even though the water was open for boating and angling, visitors shied away from the water throughout the closure period. "With family reunions, we kept the lodge full but people didn’t just come up for the day like they normally do," Koch said. "There were a lot of people who were plain intimidated to a point where they wouldn’t even go boating," Koch said. "This should ease their minds." Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times