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Diamond Lake will open after 12 days By MARK FREEMAN Swimmers, water-skiers and wading anglers are welcomed back to Diamond Lake today after it won a clean bill of health following a bout of toxins released by an August algae bloom. The Umpqua National Forest on Wednesday lifted the 12-day ban on swimming and wading just in time for vacationers mulling whether to make the popular Douglas County lake their Labor Day destination. "We've probably had a lot of people make other plans instead of coming here," said Rick Rockholt at the Diamond Lake Resort, which is the hub of the lake's recreational activities. "But folks who are going to stay closer to home and are thinking about a little impromptu trip will come here," Rockholt said. The lake, which was once home to Oregon's most popular trout-fishing waters, has been mired in troubles caused by an explosion of illegally introduced tui chubs. The chubs, which are mostly under 4 inches long and now number more than 32 million, have decimated the lake's zooplankton population. With zooplankton numbers down, blue-green algae called anabaena exploded and began releasing enough toxins to render the lake a health hazard to humans and pets. The Forest Service closed the lake to swimming Aug. 10, and then to all contact with water Aug. 17. Cooler weather and an algae die-off allowed the Forest Service to lift the boating ban Friday, allowing sport-anglers to return. Tests conducted Tuesday at the lake showed that the now-blue water sports no toxins or the troublesome algae, Umpqua Forest spokeswoman Liz Stevenson-Shaw said. "It all looked good," Stevenson-Shaw said, "so the restrictions are off." Rockholt said the resort will continue to keep its swimming pool open for visitors who are concerned about the lake's water quality. "There have been people scared away, and some people will still be concerned," Rockholt said. "But the lake's cleared up, it's blue and it's looking good." Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 776-4470, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.