The Capital Regional District and Island Health are warning the public about a blue-green algae bloom at Prior Lake in Thetis Lake Regional Park.
Dog walkers have been advised to have their pets on a leash and prevent the animals from drinking from the lake, and swimmers are warned to stay out of the water.
Blue-green algae blooms create cyanotoxins and often produce a visible sheen, which appears as surface scum on the water. However, not all blooms are easy to see and toxins can still be present in the water even if you cannot see a bloom.
The blooms are unpredictable and can occur at any time, according to the CRD.
Ingesting water containing cyanotoxins can cause a range of symptoms, including headaches and abdominal pain in humans, and can lead to lethal liver damage in dogs.
