July 1, 2023 6:30 a.m.

On Friday, the Oregon Health Authority  lifted the recreational use health advisory issued for Galesville Reservoir near Azalea.

OHA had issued the advisory on June 26th.

Water monitoring confirmed that the level of cyanotoxins in Galesville Reservoir is below recreational guideline values for people.

OHA advised that recreational visitors should continue watching out for signs of cyanobacteria blooms, as blooms can develop and disappear on any water body at any time during favorable bloom conditions. OHA said people should be aware that only a fraction of water bodies in Oregon are monitored for blooms and toxins, so it is important to become familiar with signs of a bloom, exposures and symptoms by going to: www.healthoregon.org.hab

The advisory said when recreating, people – and especially small children and pets – should be kept away from areas where water is foamy, scummy, thick like paint, pea-green or blue-green or if they notice thick brownish-red mats or blue green clumps suspended in the water. People who see these signs should avoid activities that cause them to swallow water or inhale droplets, such as swimming or high-speed water activities, and keep pets out of the area.

For health information or to report an illness, contact OHA at 971-673-0482.