Algae bloom on Shuswap Lake prompts cautionary advisory

A large algae bloom on Shuswap Lake in Salmon Arm and area has health authorities concerned enough to issue a cautionary advisory warning the public.

The algae bloom cautionary area covers the southwest arm of Shuswap Lake including Steamboat Island to Tappen Bay and Salmon Arm wharf. It also includes Sunnybrae, Canoe Beach and Herald Provincial Park, according to a Columbia Shuswap Regional District media release issued today, Aug. 17.

Swimming in the cautionary area is discouraged.

Interior Health is asking residents and visitors to avoid all direct contact with the bloom and if you make contact, to rinse your body with clean water.

Don’t drink water directly from the lake and if your water source intake is from the Salmon Arm portion of Shuswap Lake you’re urged to consider a different source for drinking water.

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Pets and livestock should also be provided with an alternate water source.

For the latest on the algae bloom go to Interior Health’s blue-green algae web page here or the Environment Ministry’s algae watch website here.

For more information about algae blooms in general check out this HealthLinkBC web page.

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