Toxic Algae Bloom Advisory Issued For Spotsylvania County Lake

The Virginia Department of Public Health recently issued a harmful algae bloom advisory for a lake neighboring several Virginia counties. The advisory urges residents to avoid the Upper and Middle Pamunkey Branches as well as the Upper and Middle North Anna Branches of Lake Anna in Spotsylvania, Orange and Louisa counties.

Test results indicate samples collected July 30 at sites within these areas contained potentially harmful algae — or cyanobacteria — exceeding safe swimming levels. The Department of Health advises both people and pets to avoid swimming and other water activities such as windsurfing, all of which pose a risk of ingesting water or exposure to skin.

Swimming advisories have been issued for the following areas of the lake. Advisory signs are posted near affected areas:

Pamunkey Branch

• Upper – From the upper inundated waters of the Pamunkey arm of the lake downstream to the confluence with Terry’s Run.
• Middle – From the confluence of Terry’s Run with Pamunkey Creek downstream to Rt. 612 (Stubbs Bridge.)
• Terry's Run – from the upper inundated waters of the lake downstream to the confluence with Pamunkey Creek.

North Anna Branch

• Upper – From the upper inundated waters of the North Anna arm of the lake downstream to the Rt. 522 Bridge.
• Middle – From the Rt. 522 Bridge downstream to the Lumsden Flats / Rose Valley cove

Algae blooms can occur when warm water and nutrients combine to make conditions favorable for algae growth. Most algae species are harmless; however, some species may produce irritating compounds or toxins.

The algae can affect people and animals by causing skin and respiratory irritations, as well as producing chemicals that are toxic when untreated water is consumed. People are encouraged to avoid discolored water or scums that are green or blueish-green because they are more likely to contain toxins.

Here are some precautions to use when you see blue-green algae, according to Virginia public health officials:

• Do not allow children or pets to drink from natural bodies of water.
• Keep children and pets out of the areas experiencing a harmful algae bloom and quickly wash them off with plenty of fresh, clean water after coming into contact with algae scum or bloom water.
• If you or your animals experience symptoms after swimming in or near an algal bloom, seek medical/veterinarian care.
• To ensure fish fillets are safe to eat, properly clean fish by removing skin and discarding all internal organs, and cooking fish to the proper temperature.
• If you suspect you experienced health-related effects following exposure to a bloom, contact the Virginia Harmful Algal Bloom Hotline at 1-888-238-6154.

Toxic algae bloom recently claimed the lives of several pets, including three dogs in North Carolina. Several dogs also reportedly died after swimming in an Austin, Texas, lake believed to have been contaminated with toxic blue-green algae.