Quick Take
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.
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One of the joys of living in Santa Cruz County is spending time at one of our local lakes.
Most of us would start our plans by first looking at the weather forecast. Yet, in our eagerness to get our boat, fishing line or selves into the water, we might not think to see if the water itself is safe.
Know before you go
Resources for navigating harmful algal blooms in California lakes:
• California water quality warning signs
• California water quality HABs reports
• California water quality HABs general portal
At places like Watsonville’s Pinto and Kelly lakes, doing a quick check can matter. Harmful algal blooms, or HABs, can pose health risks to people, pets and wildlife. Checking conditions before recreating in and around lakes is especially important between August and October since HABs typically peak during these months.
Visitors who take the time to read posted advisories and look up current water conditions can reduce their risk of unnecessary exposure to HABs.
I failed to do so when my family and I first fished at Pinto Lake. It was five years ago, and I was 11 years old. That day, we noticed algae on the lake’s surface and had no idea that it could affect our health until a fellow fisherman warned us not to touch the water and to wash our hands if we did.
I then did more research and learned that HABs are an increasingly common problem in our local waters. A HAB is a rapid overgrowth of microscopic algae or cyanobacteria in water that can produce dangerous toxins. These toxins can cause mild to serious health issues, depending on the type of harmful algal bloom you come in contact with and how you are exposed, including skin rashes, sore throat, nausea and more severe illnesses such as pneumonia.
Risks can also be great for our pets and wildlife. For example, if a dog wades into a body of water containing HABs, it could get sick if it drinks the water or licks its wet paws or fur.
By staying informed, you can enjoy our lakes safely and confidently.
The first step is recognizing what algal blooms look like. Blooms can have different appearances and levels of toxicity. They can look like spilled paint, foam, mats or streaks on the water’s surface. They can be green, blue-green, brown, red or orange. Since only water testing can determine whether toxins are present and at what level, you should check local advisories and water quality updates. When in doubt, it is best to stay out of the water and avoid touching anything that looks unusual.
Also, check the local conditions by reading signs posted by park authorities regarding current HAB levels. California uses statewide color-coded advisory signs (yellow for caution, orange for warning, and red for danger) to communicate current water conditions and recommended precautions.
As a result of my own experience, I built a bilingual, informational HABs kiosk next to Pinto Lake’s boat launch as part of my Eagle Scout project to educate visitors about these statewide advisory levels and help them know which safety precautions to follow based upon HABs levels.
Yellow signs signal it’s safe to swim and fish as long as you avoid scum and algae. Fishermen should also throw away fish guts and rinse the fish with tap or bottled water.
Orange signs prohibit swimming and limit contact with cloudy or discolored water. Red signs warn people to stay out of the water entirely and avoid eating any fish caught from the water. All levels prohibit pets from swimming or drinking the water, but always check for lake-specific information.
The kiosk’s goal is to help families, anglers and pet owners understand the warnings and make safer choices to avoid unnecessary exposure to HAB toxins.
Finally, if you do not see any signs, check the California harmful algal blooms portal for the interactive HAB reports map, which tracks statewide freshwater and estuarine incident reports.
So check the lake like you check the weather. By taking a bit of time to be informed about the local HAB conditions, you and your pets can enjoy your favorite water activities safely and confidently.
Amanda Lee-Shen is an 11th grade high school student, an Eagle Scout in Scouting America Troop 2566, a fishing enthusiast and builder of the HABs information kiosk at Pinto Lake in Watsonville.
