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http://www.omniture.com --> Email Story to a Friend July 20, 2006 Lost Creek Lake safe for people, pets again By Mark Freeman Mail Tribune A health advisory against contact with Lost Creek Lake water was lifted Wednesday, four weeks after an outbreak of toxic algae was discovered there. Jackson County health officials closed the books on the first discovery of the Anabaena flos-aquae algae in the lake's 29-year history by lifting the recommendation that people or pets stay clear of the lake. "It's a long time to leave a gem of a lake like that closed," said Gary Stevens, who runs the county's environmental health program. "But no one wants to see someone get sick or lose a dog." Following guidelines developed by toxicologists at the state Department of Human Resources, county health officials had recommended that people and pets avoid contact with the water until any toxins from the June outbreak had dissipated. The algae can produce toxins that can cause anything from a rash to death if ingested in large enough quantities. Since the toxins are released by the algae during the bloom's die-off, state guidelines suggest that health advisories remain in effect for two weeks after the greenish algae disappears from a water body. In Lost Creek Lake's case, that two-week window closed Wednesday. "It's looking quite nice these days," said Jim Buck, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' project manager at the lake. But people took the advisory to heart and stayed away en masse since word of the outbreak spread, said Perry Salvestrin, who manages Stewart State Park along the lake. Visitors to the 200-site campground were off by about one-fourth, while the boat ramp, swim area and other day-use facilities were "pretty vacant" during the advisory, Salvestrin said. Anabaena flos-aquae is one of several naturally occurring forms of blue-green algae. Blooms occur in warm, nutrient-rich and stagnant water, and they are most commonly associated with coves. Health officials and the Corps were prepared to announce Wednesday's lifting of the advisory on Tuesday, but that was halted after a Corps maintenance worker discovered some "discoloration" in the lake Tuesday afternoon, Stevens said. An inspection revealed that the discoloration was mostly likely silt and not algae, and the rest of the lake was clear, Stevens said. A similar algae bloom discovered last week at Lemolo Lake in Douglas County led the Umpqua National Forest to issue a similar health advisory there July 11. Lost Creek Lake is the eighth-most-used body of water in Oregon and the third-most-used reservoir in the state, according to the Oregon State Marine Board. Surveys show it gets close to 50,000 total user-days per year, behind only Detroit Lake and Lake Billy Chinook, two other large reservoirs. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail [email protected] . Advertisement s Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations --> online casinos news Send Flowers California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Entertainment Guide --> Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Ashley Furniture HomeStore