Still no swimming at Squamish's Alice Lake this weekend due to algae bloom
While warm and sunny weather is in the forecast over the Labour Day long weekend, people looking to cool off in a local swimming spot are being warned not to do so at Alice Lake in Squamish, B.C.
In an information bulletin Friday, Vancouver Coastal Health said a “not suitable for swimming” advisory remains in place at the lake within the popular provincial park of the same name. That’s due to a bloom of blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria.
Officials say the advisory, which has been in place since Aug. 20, is the first ever issued in the region due to blue-green algae.
The microscopic organisms naturally pop up in lakes, ponds and streams, and some produce cyanotoxins, which can harm humans and animals, the health authority explains.
“With conditions that include calm water, high temperatures and an increase in nutrients such as phosphorus, populations of cyanobacteria can rapidly increase to form a large mass or scum, called a bloom,” VCH wrote. “Scientists believe increasing temperatures and more intense storms due to climate change are causing an increase in algal blooms.”
Exposure to cyanobacteria can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fever in humans and pets. Anyone who comes into contact with the algae is advised to rinse off with clean water.
Officials say drinking water in Alice Lake Provincial Park is safe to drink as it comes from wells unaffected by the algae.
And while Alice Lake is closed to swimming, the health authority says there’s no evidence to date of blooms at the other lakes in and around the park. Alternative swimming spots in the provincial park include Stump, Fawn and Edith lakes.
Elsewhere in the VCH region, a no-swimming advisory has been in place since Aug. 15 at Trout Lake in East Vancouver due to high E.coli.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Donald Trump was the subject of 'an assassination attempt,' FBI reports
The FBI said Donald Trump was the target of “what appears to be an attempted assassination” at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Fla., on Sunday.
Vance says he'll 'create stories' when pushed on lack of evidence over claims of Ohio migrants eating animals
Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance did not back away on Sunday from the false claims he and Donald Trump have been making that Haitians in an Ohio community are abducting and eating pets, even as the state's GOP governor and other officials insist there is no evidence of such behavior.
B.C. to open 'highly secure' involuntary care facilities
B.C. will be opening “highly secure facilities” for people with addiction and mental health issues in the province, officials said Sunday.
They came from Jamaica for work, now they're homeless and out thousands of dollars in lost wages
Abuse of Canada’s temporary foreign worker program has left a group of carpenters from Jamaica 'destitute' after an Ottawa company refused to pay them for nearly half a year of work.
Montreal bars, restaurants react to Quebec bill to regulate merchant tipping requests
Quebec tabled a bill on Thursday that would regulate how merchants determine suggested tips, forcing businesses to calculate them based on the price before tax. Restaurant staff and management are divided on the policy.
Queen Victoria's favourite Tuscan villa for sale for more than US$55 million
Once a favoured holiday destination for Queen Victoria, and reputedly described in one of the greatest works of Italian literature, the Villa Palmieri is steeped in history and could now be yours – if you have more than €50 million (US$55 million) lying around.
Air Canada deal avoids shutdown, brings relief to passengers and business groups
Travellers, business groups and politicians expressed fervent relief on Sunday after Air Canada and the union representing thousands of its pilots negotiated a new labour deal and averted a disruptive, countrywide shutdown.
TIFF audience prizes for 'Life of Chuck,' Hip doc; Rankin among Canadian winners
'The Life of Chuck,' an offbeat film by writer-director Mike Flanagan, wins the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.
What are your rights as a neighbour in Canada?
If you have beef with your neighbour and you feel it's gone too far, what should you do? A personal injury lawyer has some advice.