Scientists frequently monitor the pristine waters of Lake Tahoe for potential harmful algal blooms (HABs) through shoreline testing. Recently, concerns arose after a social media post circulated about a dog allegedly dying after swimming at El Dorado Beach or Nevada Beach. The dog’s owner attributed the death to HABs, as per their veterinarian’s assessment.
Despite pre-holiday testing showing no evidence of HABs around the lake, the Lahontan Water Board took proactive measures by visiting El Dorado Beach to collect water samples following the incident. No visible signs of algae were found during their assessment.
As a precaution, the City of South Lake Tahoe has posted advisory signs to alert the public about potential risks pending sample results. Similarly, Nevada Beach is undergoing water collection and analysis by the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, with caution signs posted by the Forest Service.
Samples taken at various beaches, including Connolly Beach, Regan Beach, and Taylor Creek Marsh, did not reveal cyanobacteria or toxins like Microcystin or Anatoxin-a. Other sites such as Kiva Beach, Commons Beach, and Kings Beach also showed no signs of algae.
Mary Fiore-Wagner from the Lahontan Water Board encouraged the dog owner to report the incident via My Water Quality: California Harmful Algal Blooms for further investigation if desired.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, part of the Illness Workgroup, has sought to contact the dog owner to gather veterinary details for follow-up investigation.