CHIMACUM — A spring bloom of toxic blue-green algae today closed Anderson Lake again, ending only a three-week “season” to fishing and boating.
Water samples taken last Tuesday and sent to King County Environmental Labs showed high levels of anatoxin-A, a potent neurotoxin at about 100 times the safe recreational limit, Jefferson County Public Health said.
Because of the risk of exposure to this toxin, Washington State Parks, in consultation with county Public Health, decided to close Anderson Lake for fishing and swimming effective immediately.
Other recreation out of the lake, such as hiking, horseback riding and biking, will be allowed at Anderson Lake State Park.
Jefferson County Public Health said it will continue to monitor the lake weekly.
If test results continue to show high levels of toxin the lake will remain closed, which it has during summer months since June 2006.
Public Health has been collecting and submitting water quality/algae samples from Lake Leland, Anderson Lake and Gibbs Lake since then.
All other Jefferson County lakes remain open until further notice.
