Sonoma County officials leapt into the fray late last summer when a surprise and lethal toxic blue-green algae bloom in the Russian River killed a golden retriever and freaked out river-splashing fun-seekers drawn to the cool water and numerous water-borne entertainments.
The blue-green menace is also called cyanobacteria, and it’s pretty harmless for the most part. But, as county health officials explain, if the algae grows quickly—or “blooms”—it can create and release cyanotoxins that can cause neurological and gastrointestinal distress if consumed.
The blooms are an unusual occurrence in the Russian River, say county officials, so it’s fair to say that Sonoma County was caught a little off guard last year—even as county health workers do regular sampling of “fresh and ocean water for fecal bacteria to protect the public” says Karen Holbrook, deputy health officer with Sonoma County, via email.
Sonoma County Health Services has gotten out in front of any looming bloom this year. The county issued an information sheet just in time for Memorial Day weekend, as it warned against another possible bloom of blue-green algae. Among other handy helpfuls on its website, the county has created an online portal through which concerned citizens can check the results of ongoing tests for bacteria in the water.
The blue-green menace is also called cyanobacteria, and it’s pretty harmless for the most part. But, as county health officials explain, if the algae grows quickly—or “blooms”—it can create and release cyanotoxins that can cause neurological and gastrointestinal distress if consumed.
The blooms are an unusual occurrence in the Russian River, say county officials, so it’s fair to say that Sonoma County was caught a little off guard last year—even as county health workers do regular sampling of “fresh and ocean water for fecal bacteria to protect the public” says Karen Holbrook, deputy health officer with Sonoma County, via email.
Sonoma County Health Services has gotten out in front of any looming bloom this year. The county issued an information sheet just in time for Memorial Day weekend, as it warned against another possible bloom of blue-green algae. Among other handy helpfuls on its website, the county has created an online portal through which concerned citizens can check the results of ongoing tests for bacteria in the water.
Read more at: Toxic Redux?