Algae

Water sampling on Aug. 12 revealed a large algal bloom near Granite Point, also known as Granite Rock, on the Snake River.

As the water heats up, you might start to see lakes – and sometimes rivers – close because of toxic algal blooms. The blooms can make people sick and kill pets. But, a Central Washington team hopes they can solve the problem.

The research pinpointed the organism at the center of dangerous algae blooms.

Toxic algal blooms have plagued the lower Willamette in recent years. Most of them started in one place: the lagoon at Ross Island, near downtown Portland.

Environmentalists and fishermen say algae growth downstream are hurting invertebrates young salmon rely on.

Eclipse campers might be tempted to find an alternative source for drinking water in lakes or rivers. But the Oregon Health Authority says that's not a good idea.

Researchers from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have surveyed a toxic algae bloom off the West Coast and have found it to be larger, deeper and more dense than previously imagined.