Blue-Green Algae Information

The Deschutes National Forest encourages people recreating on the national forest to be aware of potential blue-green algae blooms on lakes and reservoirs as the weather warms. Not all algae in lakes and reservoirs is blue-green algae. Learn to tell the difference between regular and blue-green algae.

Cyanobacteria, commonly called blue-green algae, are not algae but a primitive single celled bacterium found naturally in fresh and saltwater. Under certain conditions, they multiply into a large visible mass called a "bloom." These blooms can be associated with toxins and can cause harm to humans and animals.

For more information on blue-green algae please go to the Oregon Health Authority website.

*Note: No toxicity sampling for Blue-green algae is occurring on the Deschutes National Forest at this time and advisories for toxic algae blooms will not be posted in recreational areas, on the Deschutes National Forest website or on the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) website. *The exception to this is Odell Lake, where ODEQ will be sampling water quality associated with HABs and sharing information with OHA.