The Oregon Health Authority has lifted a health advisory issued September 15 for Tenmile Lakes, located eight miles south of Reedsport off U.S. Highway 101 in Coos County. Water monitoring has confirmed reduced levels of blue-green algae and their toxins. These reduced levels are not likely to be harmful to humans and animals. Oregon health officials advise people who use Oregon water bodies for recreation to always be alert to signs of harmful algae blooms. People and their pets should avoid contact if the water is foamy, scummy, thick like paint, pea-green, blue-green or brownish-red in color, or if the water has a thick mat of algae with an unpleasant odor. For local information about water quality or blue-green algae sampling, contact the Tenmile Lakes Basin Partnership at 541-759-2414. For health information, to report human or pet illnesses due to blooms, or to ask questions about a news release, contact the Oregon Health Authority at 971-673-0400. For information about advisories issued or lifted for the season, call the Oregon Public Health toll-free information line at 1-877-290-6767 or visit the Harmful Algae Bloom website at www.healthoregon.org/hab and select “Algae Bloom Advisories.”
