Toxic algae is blooming in Pattison Lake. Here’s why you should stay out of the water

Thurston County health officials have confirmed the presence of a toxic algae bloom in Pattison Lake, just outside the city limits of Lacey, south of Mullen Road.

According to a Thursday news release from Thurston County Public Health and Social Services, lab results show high levels of microcystins, or toxins produced by freshwater cyanobacteria. The state advisory level is 8.0 micrograms per liter (ug/L), and Pattison Lake is currently at 8.2 ug/L.

Microcystins are a liver toxin and are believed to be a cause of cancer in people, according to the release. They also can cause illness in livestock and pets that drink the water. People are being asked to not drink the water, avoid swimming and other water activities, keep pets or livestock away from the lake, and avoid eating fish that came from the lake.

Staff members will continue to collect samples until the algae bloom clears. For more information on toxic algae blooms, visit the Thurston County Public Health and Social Services website.

This story was originally published July 22, 2022 at 8:00 AM.

Ty Vinson

The Olympian

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Ty Vinson covers the City of Olympia and keeps tabs on Tumwater and other communities in Thurston County. He joined The Olympian in 2021. Before that, he earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism at Indiana University. In college, he worked as an intern at the Northwest Indiana Times, the Oregonian and the Arizona Republic as a Pulliam Fellow. Support my work with a digital subscription