Worst case of blue-green algae I've seen on a western WA lake 11/30/2023

[Starman77]

Visited a western WA lake this past Thursday and it had lots of algae floating on the lake, as seen in this photo:



In places where the wind collected the algae, the blue-green color was very apparent, almost like someone had dumped some paint into the water:



Here's another photo in a different location on the lake:



I normally think of algae disappearing in the colder water temperatures, but this blue-green algae seems to survive and even thrive in the colder temperatures (the water temperature was 46 degrees). Anyone know why? The problem seems to be getting worse on several of our western WA lakes in recent years, not just this lake, but I don't know why, other than climate change probably having some effect.

Rex

 

[Chad D.]

Is that truly the “Blue Green Algae” that typically rears its head in the summer and screws up swimming? Not saying g you’re wrong by any means, just that I wasn’t aware that it could hold on into the colder weather. Seems like it peters out pretty quick in my area each year.

 

[Zak]

Visited a western WA lake this past Thursday and it had lots of algae floating on the lake, as seen in this photo:

View attachment 93398

In places where the wind collected the algae, the blue-green color was very apparent, almost like someone had dumped some paint into the water:

View attachment 93394

Here's another photo in a different location on the lake:

View attachment 93396

I normally think of algae disappearing in the colder water temperatures, but this blue-green algae seems to survive and even thrive in the colder temperatures (the water temperature was 46 degrees). Anyone know why? The problem seems to be getting worse on several of our western WA lakes in recent years, not just this lake, but I don't know why, other than climate change probably having some effect.

Rex

I'd report that to Ecology. Maybe over over application of lawn fertilizer?

 

[SurfnFish]

Is that truly the “Blue Green Algae” that typically rears its head in the summer and screws up swimming? \

yep, and not good for dogs if they drink from the lake

 

[Divad]

If lakeside permanent dwellings have increased septics and lawns could be suspect. Such are two culprits listed by the ecology dept. for a lake down here I frequent. Part time cabins became full time houses and once open lots built on.

 

[Starman77]

Is that truly the “Blue Green Algae” that typically rears its head in the summer and screws up swimming? Not saying g you’re wrong by any means, just that I wasn’t aware that it could hold on into the colder weather. Seems like it peters out pretty quick in my area each year.

I'm definitely not an algae expert, so I don't know. I know there are many different species of algae, and some apparently do well in colder temperatures. In central WA, it seems to me that the algae mostly disappears with the colder temperatures, but in western WA, some of the algae seems to thrive with the colder temperatures. Seems counter-intuitive, I know. The health departments post warning signs at the lakes, and even close some of the lakes (like Pass Lake) temporarily when the concentrations of the blue-green algae become too high.

 

[Starman77]

If lakeside permanent dwellings have increased septics and lawns could be suspect. Such are two culprits listed by the ecology dept. for a lake down here I frequent. Part time cabins became full time houses and once open lots built on.

However, some lakes have no homes or in the case of Pass Lake, just one home around it, so in those cases, it seems like leaky septic systems or over-fertilizing of lawns wouldn't be the culprit.

 

[SSPey]

I got my Master’s degree studying lakes in western WA, including a few on Fidalgo Island. Short story is that many lakes in western WA are very shallow, which keeps them in a perpetually eutrophic state. Nutrients and blue-green algae (in a resting state) get stored in the sediments and resuspended for all sorts of reasons, including wind, leading to rapid blooms. In deeper lakes, it is fairly common for them to stratify thermally in summer and then turnover/mix in fall as surface waters cool, bringing nutrient-rich deep water to the surface, causing algae blooms.

 

[Bambooflyguy]

Wow Rex..,,,blue green algae charts instead of fish charts?? Did you catch anything?

 

[RCF]

Report the bloom if you have not already: https://www.nwtoxicalgae.org/Contact.aspx.

 

[M_D]

FWIW, I visited Pass last Wednesday and it was the worst I’d ever seen it.

The pea soup slime at the launch was nasty. It seemed to be present throughout the lake but not as concentrated as along the east facing shores.

It was the first time I washed off my gear once I got home.

I chocked it up to the warmer weather

 

[Starman77]

Wow Rex..,,,blue green algae charts instead of fish charts?? Did you catch anything?

Only hooked 2 rainbows and landed one tiny largemouth bass. However, I think the falling barometer was more to blame than the blue-green algae.

 

[Starman77]

Report the bloom if you have not already: https://www.nwtoxicalgae.org/Contact.aspx.

Just reported the bloom. Will let you guys know if I hear anything back. BTW, in case you haven't recognized the lake from my photos, the lake is Offutt Lake in Thurston County, just south of Olympia.

 

[Starman77]

FWIW, I visited Pass last Wednesday and it was the worst I’d ever seen it.

The pea soup slime at the launch was nasty. It seemed to be present throughout the lake but not as concentrated as along the east facing shores.

It was the first time I washed off my gear once I got home.

I chocked it up to the warmer weather

Thanks for the Pass Lake algae report! I also thoroughly washed off all my gear when I got home, but I'm not sure it will make any difference, as it seems that this blue-green algae is already present in most of our western WA lakes.

 

[BriGuy]

Just reported the bloom. Will let you guys know if I hear anything back. BTW, in case you haven't recognized the lake from my photos, the lake is Offutt Lake in Thurston County, just south of Olympia.

I thought it was Offutt. I don't think I've seen that lake really clear in years. The blooms have been horrible at times and even at its clearest, visibility is not that great -- winter or summer.

It also has one of the most evil boat launches around. It has a nice mix of deep and shallow sections , though, and can be fun to fish when it's not slimy.

 

[Smalma]

Just check the "Washington State toxic algae" web site and it appears the Offutt was last sampled in mid October and toxic levels for both mcrocystin and anatonn A were below state guidelines. Interestingly it appears that Offutt is sampled fairly often and has not had toxin levels above guidelines for at least 5 years.

Curt

 

[BriGuy]

Just check the "Washington State toxic algae" web site and it appears the Offutt was last sampled in mid October and toxic levels for both mcrocystin and anatonn A were below state guidelines. Interestingly it appears that Offutt is sampled fairly often and has not had toxin levels above guidelines for at least 5 years.

Curt

Good to know. Thanks, Curt.

Is there a high risk of tranferring the algae to other lakes via boat? It gets really thick and seems to collect at the launch. Or, is it already present in the other lakes with blooms dependent only on local conditions?

 

[Starman77]

FYI: After submitting a report I received a quick response as follows:

=======================================

Thank you for reporting this cyanobacteria bloom. Unfortunately as of November 13th the lab is not taking any more samples to test for toxins produced by cyanobacteria this season. Our general recommendation is to stay out of the lake and minimize contact with the lake if you have concerns. The presence of cyanobacteria does not guarantee the presence of potential toxins, but it can be an indicator. We have a sign at the public boat launch reiterating our caution when spotting cyanobacteria.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Best,

John Haberlin, Environmental Health Specialist
Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Department
412 Lilly Rd NE, Olympia WA 98506
C: 360.968.9990 | P: 360.867.2558 | Fax: 866.928.1181

john.haberlin@co.thurston.wa.us | www.co.thurston.wa.us/health

 

[Salmo_g]

Must be a sign of the times. I've fished Offut since 1965 - it was close to home, and my GF lived there. Seasonal algal blooms have always been common. The lake has been built up with residences since before WWII, so nutrient input has been constant. But Rex is right, the algae should be long gone once autumn rains, wind, and cooling have arrived. I was just thinking of fishing there or Munn, but now I think I'll stay home and tie flies and build up the rod blank that arrived the other day.

 

[SilverFly]

Crazy to think 2+ billion years ago that was the most advanced lifeform on the planet.