Menlo Park student Amanda Lee-Shen’s experience with dangerous water at Pinto Lake sparked a mission to help others stay safe on Santa Cruz County’s waters. Here, the 11th grader at Castilleja School explains why checking lake conditions for harmful algal blooms should be as routine as checking the weather. She shares what to look for, how California’s warning signs work and why pets and wildlife face risks, especially from now through October. Her message is simple: Before you head to the lake, check the water.
