Diaz Lake to be Reopened to Water-Related Activities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2024

Diaz Lake to be Reopened to Water-Related Activities 

The County of Inyo will reopen Diaz Lake for water-related activities on Tuesday, October 1. The lake was closed and the public prohibited from entering the water on August 28 after the discovery of harmful blue green algae blooms. The campground and other facilities remained open.

The Inyo County Department of Environmental Health has determined that Diaz Lake can be re-opened  after recent water quality testing results that indicate the algae bloom has reduced to a Tier 1 CAUTION  level. This caution level can still be hazardous for pets that may drink water from the lake and  recommendations remain in place to wash off with clean water after entering the lake. The conditions at  Diaz Lake are being closely monitored and the public will be notified when the risk has fully subsided.

Blue-green algae – a common cyanobacterium – exist all over the world and are generally harmless unless  certain conditions, such as increasingly warmer waters, cause a rapid accumulation of blooms in a water  body. The algae produce toxins that can be harmful to humans and animals when they come into contact  with the affected water.

In humans, exposure to blue-green algae can cause the following health effects if they touch, swallow, or  inhale airborne droplets of the water: stomach pain, rash, headaches, coughing, watery eyes, nose  irritation, and sore throat. According to the Center for Disease Control, more serious symptoms such as  liver damage, seizure, and irregular heartbeat can occur.

Animals – including pets, livestock, and wildlife – can fall extremely ill or die if they swim in or consume  large amounts of contaminated water. Symptoms include vomiting, loss of energy, stumbling and falling,  and seizures.

News Staff