Visitors to Upper Klamath Lake in Southern Oregon and the Klamath River that flows from it into California should be aware of algal blooms going into the Labor Day weekend.
In mid-July, the Oregon Health Authority issued an advisory for the lake and river that remains active.
Contact with the algal blooms is harmful to both animals and humans. Some of the symptoms, include rashes, nose and eye irritation and gastrointestinal problems.
Klamath County tourism officials are advising visitors that thhere are areas of the lake and river that are unaffected by the blooms.
“If you look at the Upper Klamath Lake, there’s water all around that so there’s other places for people to go and that’s what we suggested our tourism-related businesses do, is make other recommendations,” says Heather Tramp, with the Klamath County Chamber of Commerce.
Iron Gate Reservoir and Copco Reservoir are some of the areas listed in an assessment leading up to Labor Day.
Holly Dillemuth's reporting appears on JPR through an agreement with the Herald & News.