The season is starting for toxic algae that has killed Tri-Cities dogs and can make people sick, says the Benton Franklin Health District.
About 10 dogs have died in the Tri-Cities area in recent years after playing in water contaminated by toxic algae, Jim Coleman, a district environmental health specialist, told the Richland City Council earlier this year.
The Benton Franklin Health District has been testing Columbia River water this year since May, and found some contamination at the Leslie Groves swim beach and Howard Amon Park in Richland based on the results from samples collected July 22.
The amount of toxin detected then was below the threshold considered harmful for recreation, according to the district.
But it is a cautionary signal that the season for toxic algae in the Tri-Cities area, which usually starts in mid August, peaks in September and then can continue into October, is starting.
Toxic algae has been found for years in Scooteney Reservoir west of Connell in Eastern Washington, which is sometimes closed to recreation in August or September because of toxic algae blooms.
But health officials were not aware that toxic algae also posed a risk in some shoreline areas of the Columbia River until a dog died in September 2021 during a family boating outing. They had motored up the river from Richland to a beach just south of the Ringold boat ramp on the Franklin County side of the river.
The dog's owner reported to the health district that some of the water in the Ringold area looked "scummy." Her dog took a few small sips, then put their head in the water and started convulsing. The pet died before the family could reach help.
The death was reported to the health district the morning after the weekend, and by the end of that day officials there were also looking into the deaths of two other dogs that swam near Leslie Groves and Howard Amon parks, as well as upstream.
Howard Amon and Leslie Groves in Richland have remained the hot spots for toxic algae, sometimes called blue-green algae, Coleman told the council.
But elevated levels have been found at other parks and recreation areas along the river, including Wade Park in Pasco, Columbia Point in Richland and the McNary Slough near Burbank in Walla Walla County.
The health district also checks water at Tri-Cities municipal water plant intakes and has not found the toxic algae there this summer. The Tri-Cities municipal governments have treatment processes to neutralize the toxin in drinking water.
Often, but not always, contaminated areas of river have layers of scum or clumps in different colors like green, brown, reddish brown or tan on or around the water's surface, the health district said.
In one case, a dog died after eating a clump of toxic algae in the Columbia River in the Tri-Cities.
There may also be layers of colored scum on rocks.
In some cases the algal bloom may stink, which can attract your dog or other animals.
Toxic algae dog precautions
What is commonly called toxic algae is bacteria which have some of the characteristics of plants and produce toxins.
The toxin that had been found for at least a decade at Scooteney Reservoir is a liver toxin, but in the Columbia River near the Tri-Cities the toxic algae may be anatoxin-a, which affects the nerves.
Because it affects muscles in the diaphragm, it can lead to death by asphyxiation.
Dogs are especially at risk as they may drink the water and green material along the shoreline.
Warning signs are posted when the health district has positive results for the toxin at levels considered dangerous for recreation.
Even if there are no warning signs, dogs should not eat or chew on clumps of algae or lick their fur after being in the river. They should be rinsed with clean water after swimming and people should rinse their hands and any exposed skin, says the health district.
If a pet becomes ill, a veterinarian should be called immediately. Veterinarians are asked to call the health district if they suspect animal poisonings from toxic algae.
Symptoms of toxic algae can appear in people or animals withing 15 to 20 minutes after ingesting contaminated water, depending on the size of the person or animal and the amount of toxins consumed.
Exposure in animals may result in weakness, staggering, difficulty breathing, convulsions and death.
If a pet becomes ill, a veterinarian should be called immediately. Veterinarians are asked to call the health district if they suspect animal poisonings from toxic algae.
In people, signs may include numbness of the lips, tingling in fingers and toes, and dizziness. They should seek medical help.
The Benton Franklin Health District will again test Columbia River water at multiple sites on Monday, Aug. 12. It is not checking the Yakima River on a regular basis because past tests have not found algae toxins there.
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