Five Thurston County lakes have toxic algae

Five lakes in Thurston County are under health advisories for toxic blue-green algae.

The advisory affects Black, Deep, Long, Pattison and Scott lakes.

People are advised to stay out of the water and anglers are asked to practice catch and release until the advisories are lifted, according to the county health department.

Recent water samples taken from the lakes show the algae toxin Microcystin from 4 to 25 times greater than the state standard of 6 micrograms per liter for recreational water use. Swallowing or exposure to toxin-contaminated water can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting in humans and death in animals. Symptoms can take hours to days to appear, according to a news release.

Warning signs are posted at public access points, public boat launches and other community access points on each lake. The lakes will be monitored weekly until algae levels are at or below the state standard and the advisories can be lifted.

This story was originally published October 30, 2015 at 2:48 PM with the headline "Five Thurston County lakes have toxic algae."