Health officials issue advisory for Fairview Lake because of algae

By Shannon Wells

The Gresham Outlook, Jul 28, 2010

Prompted by high algae levels, the Oregon Public Health Division and Multnomah County Health Department officials issued a health advisory for Fairview Lake on Tuesday, July 27.

Water monitoring confirmed the presence of blue-green algae that can produce toxins harmful to humans and animals at the lake just south of Blue Lake in Fairview. The levels are likely to accommodate dangerous toxin concentrations in the water, according to World Health Organization guidelines.

Visitors to and residents around the lake – which is fed from different source streams as opposed to the spring-fed Blue Lake – should avoid swallowing or inhaling water droplets. Water-skin contact should be avoided. Drinking water from Fairview Lake is especially dangerous.

Here are some guidelines about use of the lake, provided by Oregon Public Health officials:

• Algae toxins cannot be removed by boiling, filtering or treating lake water with camping-style filters.

• People who draw in-home water directly from Fairview Lake are advised to use an alternative water source.

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