State says Lacamas and Round lakes reopen to public use

The advisory was issued Sept. 17 shortly after health officials learned a young Labrador retriever swam in Round Lake, then became acutely ill and died.

Under Washington State Department of Health guidelines, the maximum concentration of anatoxin is one part per billion, and none was detected in either Round Lake or Lacamas Lake. For microcystin, the maximum concentration in lakes is six parts per billion, and testing showed a level of 1.75 parts per billion in Lacamas Lake and 0.777 parts per billion in Round Lake.

Cyanobacteria toxin (algae blooms) can spike and fall quickly, even within a day, depending on the weather. State officials continue to study cyanobacteria blooms to learn more about how the bacteria functions.

Health officials do not yet know if the dog died from cyanobacteria toxin or another cause, but cyanobacteria toxin appears to be the likely cause.

Written by Joni McAnally
Administrative Assistant
Clark County Public Information and Outreach