Kern County Public Health is issuing a warning to individuals who frequent Lake Isabella for recreational activities. Recent water samples from 17 locations in the lake showed potentially harmful blue-green cyanotoxin algae at the cautionary level in the Hanning Flat area.
These cyanobacteria can produce toxins that have the potential to harm individuals, pets, livestock, and wildlife. Children and dogs are especially vulnerable due to their smaller body size, and some signs of cyanobacteria toxins include eye irritation, skin rash, mouth ulcers, vomiting, diarrhea, and flu-like symptoms.
To protect yourself from harmful algal blooms, officials advise following advisories, staying away from algae and scum in the water and on shore, watching children and pets closely, and avoiding letting them go into the water or consume algae accumulations. For fishermen, it is advised to throw away guts and clean fillets with tap water or bottled water before cooking to avoid potential exposure.
Kern Public Health has posted health advisory signs around the lake to caution people about the potential dangers of using contaminated water for recreational activities. For more information on how to protect yourself from harmful algal blooms and other potential hazards at Lake Isabella, visit Kern Public Health’s website.
