Brownish-Red Water In Oakland's Lake Merritt Could Be Harmful Algal Bloom

CBS San Francisco

August 9, 2022

A complaint about brownish-red water in Lake Merritt last week has led Oakland Public Works to inspect the water for a potential harmful algal bloom.

The complaint came from a resident near the 1200 to 1400 blocks of Lakeshore Avenue, the same area where testing found low levels of contaminants associated with harmful algal bloom earlier this year.

Also known as cyanobacteria, algal blooms can produce toxins that are harmful to humans and animals. The brownish red color of the water reported by the resident indicates there could be a cyanobacteria bloom in the area.

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