The Register-Guard

Health advisory issued for Eckman Lake near Waldport

Oregon health officials on Tuesday recommende­d people avoid swimming or high-speed boating in Eckman Lake, a poplar recreation site outside Waldport in Lincoln County.

A recreation­al health advisory was issued for the 58-acre lake near the coast “due to the presence of a cyanobacte­ria bloom and cyanotoxin­s above recreation­al use values for human exposure,” the Oregon Health Authority said in a news release.

Visitors should “avoid areas of the reservoir where blooms are present, as the major route of exposure is ingestion of water,” the news release said.

Those exposed to the blooms can get a puffy red rash while anyone who ingests it can get a sickness similar to food poisoning.

“OHA encourages people to visit Eckman Lake and enjoy activities such as fishing, camping, hiking, biking, picnicking, bird watching, canoeing and kayaking. Boating is safe as long as speeds do not create excessive water spray. Sprays could lead to the risk of inhaling cyanotoxin­s,” the news release said.

Drinking any water from the lake is not recommende­d and pets and small children are at elevated risk of illness.

“Dogs can get extremely ill and even die within minutes to hours of exposure to cyanotoxin­s by drinking the water, licking their fur, or eating the toxins from floating mats or dried crust along the shore,” OHA said.

Dogs can experience weakness, difficulty walking, seizures, lethargy, loss of appetite and more. If a dog exhibits symptoms, veterinary treatment should be sought as quickly as possible.

In humans, exposure to cyanotoxin­s can be serious and cause a range of symptoms including stomach cramping, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Symptoms may also be more serious, such as numbness, tingling, dizziness and shortness of breath. These symptoms may require medical attention.

Fish caught from areas where cyanobacte­ria blooms are present may pose unknown health risks, so OHA recommends not eating fish from those areas. Those who decide to eat the fish should remove fat, skin and organs before cooking or freezing. Toxins are more likely to collect in these tissues. Fillets should also be rinsed with clean water.

For health informatio­n or to report an illness, contact OHA at 971-673-0482, or go to OHA’s Cyanobacte­ria (Harmful Algae) Blooms website.

Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 16 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. Urness is the author of “Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon” and “Hiking Southern Oregon.” He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJ­ournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORout­doors.