JACKSON, Wyo. — A recreational-use bloom advisory has been issued for Brooks Lake on Togwotee Pass, warning of a harmful cyanobacteria bloom.
According to a press release from the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, cyanotoxin concentrations above recreational thresholds can pose a risk to people engaging in water contact activities where blooms occur, or to pets and livestock that swim in or drink the water.
On Thursday, July 24, the bloom was observed at the Brooks Lake Campground. The public is reminded to avoid contact with the water, “especially in areas where cyanobacteria are dense and form scums.” Boiling and filtering contaminated water will not remove toxins.
Shoshone National Forest Public Affairs Officer Evan Guzik said that pets and stock should not be allowed to drink from the area. If they do come in contact with the water, they should be rinsed thoroughly with clean water before having the chance to lick themselves.
“It’s tough to know what is normal algae versus the harmful cyanobacteria,” Guzik told Buckrail, “so when around any body of water that is under an advisory, erring on the side of caution is the best practice.”
