<html><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:14pt"><div class="" style=""><a href="http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_26377206/toxic-blue-green-algae-detected-trinity-river" class="" style="">http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_26377206/toxic-blue-green-algae-detected-trinity-river</a><br class="" style=""></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 19px; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times, serif; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; " class=""><span class="" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; "><h1 id="articleTitle" class="" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 11.326px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2; color: inherit;
text-rendering: optimizelegibility; font-size: 33px; white-space: normal !important; ">Toxic blue-green algae detected in Trinity River</h1><div id="articleSubTitle" class="" style="text-align: left; color: rgb(85, 85, 85); font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif !important; text-transform: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-size: 20px; font-weight: bold !important; ">Public warned of health risks, asked to avoid areas</div><div id="articleByline" class="" style="text-align: left; font-weight: normal; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-style: italic; font-size: 14px; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 11.326px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/20px 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-style: italic; font-size: 14px; " class="">By Will Houston</div><div style="margin-top: 0px;
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 11.326px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 14px/20px 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-style: italic; font-size: 14px; " class=""><a href="mailto:whouston@times-standard.com" style="color: rgb(82, 120, 174); text-decoration: none; -webkit-transition-property: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.1s; -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease-out; -webkit-transition-delay: initial; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; " class="">whouston@times-standard.com</a> @Will_S_Houston on Twitter</div><div id="articleDate" class="" style="text-align: left; font: normal normal normal 10px/16.989px 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(128, 128, 128); text-transform: uppercase; white-space: nowrap; border-top-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-width: 1px;
border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 5px; padding-top: 2px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 22px; ">POSTED: 08/20/2014 10:20:24 PM PDT<a href="http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_26377206/toxic-blue-green-algae-detected-trinity-river#disqus_thread" data-disqus-identifier="ci_26377206" style="color: rgb(128, 128, 128); text-decoration: none; -webkit-transition-property: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.1s; -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease-out; -webkit-transition-delay: initial; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; float: right; " class="">0 COMMENTS</a><span style="padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; " class="">|</span> <span id="dateUpdated" title="08/20/2014 10:20:24 PM" class="" style="">UPDATED: ABOUT 18 HOURS AGO</span></div></div><br class=""
style=""><span fd-type="start" fd-id="default" class="" style=""></span><div class="" style="text-align: left; "></div><span fd-type="end" fd-id="default" class="" style=""></span><div id="articleBody" class="" style="text-align: left; font: normal normal normal 15px/normal Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; line-height: 22.652px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><div class="" id="articleViewerGroup" style="text-align: left; float: right; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; "><span class="" style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; "></span><span fd-type="start" fd-id="default" class="" style=""></span><span fd-type="end" fd-id="default" class="" style=""></span></div><span fd-type="start" fd-id="default" class="" style=""></span><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px;
margin-bottom: 11.326px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 15px/normal Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif !important; line-height: 22.652px !important; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " class="">Less than a month after the state issued a health hazard warning of toxic blue-green algae blooming on the Klamath River, the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services has made a similar warning after detecting low levels of toxins at a popular Trinity River swimming spot.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 11.326px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 15px/normal Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif !important; line-height: 22.652px !important; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " class="">"It's up to the users to exercise their level of comfort and caution in the river. We're just educating them on the risks that are posed," department Division of Environmental Health Director Melissa Martel
said.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 11.326px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 15px/normal Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif !important; line-height: 22.652px !important; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " class="">The samples were taken from a popular swimming area at Kimtu Park near Willow Creek, which found the presence of toxins produced of blue-green algae.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 11.326px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 15px/normal Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif !important; line-height: 22.652px !important; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " class="">Martel said it is very common for the algae to show up during this time of year, but said the ongoing statewide drought has created optimal conditions for algal blooms to occur.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 11.326px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal
normal 15px/normal Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif !important; line-height: 22.652px !important; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " class="">"Blue-green algae thrives in slower moving water with high temperatures," she said. "With the drought, you're seeing lower water levels, which slows down the water, and the water tends to warm up,"</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 11.326px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 15px/normal Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif !important; line-height: 22.652px !important; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " class="">The initial samples show a low concentration of the toxins at the site, but Kevin Metcalfe, supervising environmental health specialist of the Department of Health and Human Services, said more samples were taken on Wednesday to follow up.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 11.326px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal
15px/normal Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif !important; line-height: 22.652px !important; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " class="">"I would anticipate that additional results will be available next week," he said.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 11.326px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 15px/normal Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif !important; line-height: 22.652px !important; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " class="">Nearby communities and tribes have been alerted of the recent finding. The Hoopa Valley Tribe's Environmental Program Director Ken Norton said that they have issued their own community advisory and had sent off several samples for testing on Wednesday.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 11.326px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 15px/normal Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif !important; line-height: 22.652px !important; color: rgb(51, 51,
51); " class="">"We have been testing for the presence of microcystin (a toxin produced by blue-green algae) since 2008, and our the latest results were from July 31," he said. "It showed a very minute (amount). With the recent warning from the North Coast Water Board and now this, we have issued a community advisory based on the presence of the blue-green algae."</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 11.326px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 15px/normal Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif !important; line-height: 22.652px !important; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " class="">Metcalfe said microcystin was not detected in the recent sampling, but another toxin called anatoxin was confirmed.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 11.326px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 15px/normal Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif !important; line-height: 22.652px !important;
color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " class="">"In general, the blue-green algae may be present in our freshwaters, which is part of our ongoing outreach efforts," he said. "It could be anywhere along the river. Our focus right now is on this particular area."</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 11.326px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 15px/normal Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif !important; line-height: 22.652px !important; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " class="">Blue-green algae may appear as green, blue-green, white or brown scum, foam or mats floating on the water. The department advises the public to consider the risks of exposing themselves to these waters, especially for dogs and children, which are most likely to be affected due to their small body size and tendency to stay in the water for longer periods.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 11.326px; margin-left: 0px; font:
normal normal normal 15px/normal Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif !important; line-height: 22.652px !important; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " class="">The department recommends the public to follow these guidelines to reduce health risks:</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 11.326px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 15px/normal Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif !important; line-height: 22.652px !important; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " class="">• Keep children, pets and livestock from swimming in or drinking water containing algal scums or mats.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 11.326px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 15px/normal Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif !important; line-height: 22.652px !important; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " class="">• Adults should also avoid wading and swimming in water containing algal blooms. Try not to swallow or
inhale water spray in an algal bloom area.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 11.326px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 15px/normal Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif !important; line-height: 22.652px !important; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " class="">• If no algal scums or mats are visible, you should still carefully watch young children and warn them not to swallow any water.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 11.326px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 15px/normal Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif !important; line-height: 22.652px !important; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " class="">• Fish should be consumed only after removing the guts and liver and rinsing fillets in tap water.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 11.326px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 15px/normal Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif
!important; line-height: 22.652px !important; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " class="">• Never drink, cook with or wash dishes with water from rivers, streams or lakes.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 11.326px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 15px/normal Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif !important; line-height: 22.652px !important; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " class="">• Get medical attention immediately if you think that you, your pet, or livestock might have been poisoned by blue-green algae toxins. Be sure to tell the doctor about possible contact with blue-green algae.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 11.326px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 15px/normal Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif !important; line-height: 22.652px !important; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " class="">More information can be found at<a
href="http://www.cdph.ca.gov/healthinfo/environhealth/water/Pages/bluegreenalgae.aspx" style="color: rgb(82, 120, 174); text-decoration: none; -webkit-transition-property: initial; -webkit-transition-duration: 0.1s; -webkit-transition-timing-function: ease-out; -webkit-transition-delay: initial; " class="">http://www.cdph.ca.gov/healthinfo/environhealth/water/Pages/bluegreenalgae.aspx</a>.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 11.326px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 15px/normal Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif !important; line-height: 22.652px !important; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " class=""><em style="font-style: italic; " class="">Will Houston can be reached at 707-441-0504.</em></div><div class="" style=""><em style="font-style: italic; " class=""><br class="" style=""></em></div></div></span></div><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 19px; font-family: 'times new roman', 'new york', times,
serif; background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; " class=""><br class="" style=""></div></div></body></html>