NEWS RELEASES
Lady Bird Lake Tagged As Off-Limits To Dogs
Editor's Note: This news item was retrieved and first published through The Statesman's website.
The Statesman reports that Austin officials warn of potentially toxic algae in Lady Bird Lake. Pet owners should keep their animals out of the lake after news that two dogs that swam there have died. Brandon Mulder & Kelsey Bradshaw of The Statesman relay in their article, "Although the city has yet to confirm the causes of the deaths, a warning was first issued in the beginning of August “out of an abundance of caution” because the dogs’ symptoms appeared consistent with exposure to a toxin produced by a type of algae, city officials said.
City officials said the blue-green algae is especially prevalent near Red Bud Isle near Tom Miller Dam and was covering up to 40% of the water’s surface there. “The situation is evolving. We have not seen any impacts to aquatic species at this time,” the city’s statement said. According to the city, the algae bloom “appears to be confined to algae growing on the bottom of the lake and then floating in clumps to the surface.”
To stay updated on the tests, read up on subsequent news on the issue from the City of Austin.