CRD warns of toxic algae blooms in 3 local lakes
The Capital Regional District is reminding would-be lake users that toxic algae blooms are ongoing in three different lakes across two regional parks.
As of Aug. 6, there were blue-green algae blooms at Prior Lake and Lower Thetis Lake in Thetis Lake Regional Park, as well as at Wrigglesworth Lake in Wrigglesworth Lake Regional Park.
"These algae are known toxin producers," the CRD said in an updated advisory on its website Saturday.
"Ingesting water containing these cyanotoxins may cause a range of symptoms – including headaches and abdominal pain in humans – and can lead to lethal liver damage in dogs."
The CRD advises park visitors to avoid swimming in the specified lakes, and to keep animals on leash to prevent them from drinking or swimming in the lakes.
Blue-green algae typically appears as a visible sheen on the water, but not all blooms are easy to see, and toxins can still be present even if a bloom is not visible, the CRD said.
Algae blooms have been a recurring problem in Elk and Beaver lakes in recent years, to the point that the CRD has launched a remediation project aimed at oxygenating the lakes.
The most recent updates on the project website suggest the system will be operational by next summer.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Three dead, two hospitalized, following collision in Fredericton: police
Three people have died and two have been hospitalized after a speeding car struck a tree and landed on another vehicle in Fredericton Sunday morning.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Madonna's biggest-ever concert transforms Rio's Copacabana beach into a massive dance floor
Madonna put on a free concert on Copacabana beach Saturday night, turning Rio de Janeiro's vast stretch of sand into an enormous dance floor teeming with a multitude of her fans.
1 person killed and 23 injured in a bus crash in northern Maryland, police say
One person was killed and 23 others were injured when a bus crashed early Sunday on Interstate 95 in northern Maryland, police said.
‘Love has no boundaries’: Sask. couple in their 90s and 80s get married
Eighty-two-year-old Susan Neufeldt and 90-year-old Ulrich Richter are no spring chickens, but their love blossomed over the weekend with their wedding at Pine View Manor just outside of Rosthern.
Video shows gaggle of geese stopping traffic on Highway 1 near Vancouver
A mother goose and her goslings caused a bit of a traffic jam on a busy stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway near Vancouver Saturday.
Chemical spill could be cause of stinky water in Puslinch, Ont., new report says
People living in Puslinch, Ont. may have the answer to why their water smelled so bad last year.
Should you save or splurge on makeup this summer?
If you're wondering whether you should splurge or save when it comes to buying skincare products and makeup this summer, we got some answers for you.
William Shatner says he would consider 'Star Trek' return: 'Here comes Captain Kirk!'
The Montreal-born actor, famed for his portrayal of Captain Kirk in "Star Trek," says he is open to reprising the iconic role in the sci-fi franchise as long as the storytelling is stellar.