The drought west of the U.S. Rocky Mountains is turning deadly, as lake water is being blamed for the death of dogs.

Three pet dogs died after drinking water from Lake Chabot Regional Park in Castro Valley, California.  It happened in December and January when they were out walking with their owners.

Now, right before the 4th of July weekend, the East Bay Regional Park District has closed Lake Temescal to swimming due to deadly blue-green algae (Cyanobacteria, aka pond scum).  The algae shuts down your liver and nervous system.  Lake Temescal was temporarily shutdown last year for the same thing.

Reports say Shinn Pond in Fremont is also infected with blue-green algae, and Quarry Lakes, also in Fremont, has been shutdown.

During normal years rain helps flush the lakes of the toxic algae, but after a decade of drought the algae is taking over.  But it’s not just fresh water sources that are affected, recent reports say salt water algae blooms along California’s Pacific Coast has shutdown commercial fishing operations.

According to state health administrators the symptoms of internal blue-green algae poisoning, in humans, are stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, headache, fever, muscle weakness and difficulty breathing.  As you can see it could be mistaken for the common flu.  External exposure results in skin rashes and blisters.   Non-human animals can also suffer seizures.  Immediate medical attention is suggested, but I have not been able to find anything about what is done to treat the infection.

Trying to kill the pond scum with chemicals results in an immediate release of their toxins into the water.  Park employees in California are using something called Pak 27, an organic oxidizing agent, to reduce the algae blooms.  In Canada, agricultural administrators advise farmers to use copper sulfate to eliminate Cyanobacteria.