OAKLAND (KRON) — East Bay Regional Parks officials were out at Lake Temescal again on Tuesday taking water samples, one day after officials treated the popular lake for toxic blue-green algae.
The park district shut down the 13-acre lake in the Oakland Hills to swimmers last week and officials issued a warning that the toxic algae can be fatal to dogs.
On Monday, park officials used an oxidizing agent known as Pak 27 to address the problem. Officials say they will continue to take water samples from the lake on a daily basis to determine when it is safe to reopen. They hope to reopen the lake by this weekend.
Officials say the drought and warm conditions are leading to more frequent toxic algae blooms. The problem has also led to the closure of Quarry Lakes in Fremont. And officials say Lake Chabot in Castro Valley and Shinn Pond in Fremont also contain toxic algae.
Last summer, Lake Temescal was closed for more than two months because of the same problem.
The park district says it is working with the Environmental Protection Agency as well as public health departments to monitor the current situation.