Warning issued for toxic algal outbreak at Salton Sea

The Colorado River Basin Water Quality Control Board recently issued a warning for people and their pets to avoid water contact in the Salton Sea after detecting several harmful algal blooms.

The confirmed presence of HABs around Salton Sea indicate the blooms contain varieties of toxic cyanobacteria. The toxins produced by cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms (HABs) can affect the skin, liver and nervous system of people and of dogs and livestock.

Warning signs will be posted in multiple locations around the Salton Sea State Recreation Area and additional locations to alert visitors to the dangers associated with cyanotoxins.

People are warned to follow the following guidelines until further notice:

• No swimming
• Don’t let pets enter the water, drink the water or eat scum and algal mats on the shore.
• Stay away from scum, algal mats, and cloudy or discolored water. Algal mats growing on the bottom surface can be difficult to see from the shore.
• For caught fish, discard guts and clean fillets with tap water or bottled water.
• Don’t use water directly from Salton Sea for drinking or cooking. Boiling and filtering will not make the water safe.

If you or someone you know, has gotten sick after coming in contact with the water, seek medical treatment immediately. Be sure to alert the medical professional to the possible contact with cyanobacteria bloom and the Salton Sea.

People can contact the Riverside or Imperial County public health department and email [email protected] to report a HAB related illness.