Blue-Green Algae Back In Lady Bird Lake

The Watershed Protection Department has received the test results from algae that was sampled on July 14, 2020. University of Texas researchers have confirmed the presence of dihydroanatoxin within the algae samples from Festival Beach and Red Bud Isle.

Additional signage is being placed along Lady Bird Lake to help alert the public to the presence of toxins.

Austin Watershed recommends that dog owners not allow their pets to swim in or drink from Lady Bird Lake. People should avoid handling the algae. 

Dihydroanatoxin is one of several possible toxins that cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae, can produce. It is the same toxin that was produced last year.  

The toxin is contained within the algae and has not been released into the water. This is important because it means that currently, exposure to the toxin would occur through touching or ingesting the algae, not through contact with the water. 

Austin Watershed Protection stated they will continue weekly monitoring of algae at four locations on Lady Bird Lake, including Red Bud Isle, the mouth of Barton Creek, Vic Mathias Shores, and Festival Beach. Information about water temperature, flow, the presence of algae, and testing results are available on a dashboard at AustinTexas.gov/Algae.  

Dogs were particularly vulnerable to the harmful algae bloom that occurred last year. At least five dogs died after swimming in Lady Bird Lake during the summer of 2019.

The algae naturally will die off when cooler weather returns in the fall.

In late August of 2019, blue-green algae was found in Lady Bird lake and the San Marcos River. Currently, all San Marcos parks are closed including the San Marcos River.

Dog owners should take their pets to a veterinarian immediately if their dogs become sick after swimming in Lady Bird Lake.

Please also report the illness to 3-1-1. Symptoms of exposure may include: 

• Excessive drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea 
• Foaming at the mouth 
• Jaundice and hepatomegaly 
• Blood in urine or dark urine 
• Stumbling 
• Loss of appetite 
• Photosensitization in recovering animals 
• Abdominal tenderness 
• Progression of muscle twitches 
• Respiratory paralysis 

At this time, the risk to people appears low and people may continue to boat and fish, following COVID-19 restrictions in the “STAY HOME, MASK AND OTHERWISE BE SAFE” order.

People should avoid handling the algae and rinse off if they fall into the water. Swimming has been banned in Lady Bird Lake since 1964.