News from Sonoma County Department of Health Services:

The Environmental Health & Safety Section (EHS) of the Sonoma County Department of Health Services and the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (NCRWQCB) are encouraging recreational users of the Russian River to take precautions and practice healthy water habits. Signs will be going up at public beaches along the River on August 21st.

The enhanced promotion of healthy water habits by EHS and NCRWQCB officials is prompted by detection of small amounts of blue-green algae and toxins mixed in with otherwise harmless filamentous algae in the shoreline mats. Algae, including blue-green algae, is a normal inhabitant in many water environments. Warm water, low flows and abundant nutrients can cause algae to grow more rapidly than usual and create algal mats or "blooms." The current drought and summer conditions are contributing to the algal blooms in the Russian River. Most algae, including blue-green algae, do not produce toxins. Some species of blue-green algae have the ability to produce toxins which can create health effects for humans and animals.

It is important to note that although some blue-green algae can produce toxins, they do not do so all the time. Comprehensive monitoring for harmful algal blooms in a body of water with ever changing conditions is difficult. Therefore, county health and water quality board officials are encouraging precautions along the Russian River.

Algal blooms can look like green, blue-green, white, or brown foam, scum or mats floating on the water or along the shore. For safety, it is best to stay away from algal mats. If toxin is present, dogs and children are most likely to be affected.

Children are vulnerable because they play in shoreline areas, drink more water than adults when swimming, and are of small body size. Dogs are especially vulnerable because they tend to drink more water and lick algae off their fur.

Blue-green algae toxins can cause a variety of symptoms including contact irritation (e.g., eye, nose, mouth and skin), gastro-intestinal symptoms (e.g., abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, liver inflammation) and neurologic symptoms (e.g., muscle tremors, seizures, difficulty breathing). The following are recommended healthy water habits for recreational users of the Russian River: