WALLA WALLA—This week Walla Walla County Department of Community Health (DCH) collected the final cyanobacteria, otherwise known as blue-green algae, water sample from Bennington Lake. The King County Public Health Lab will not be taking any more cyanobacteria samples until next season.

The final collection showed microcystin levels were very low and anatoxin-a was not detected and has not been detected throughout the entire monitoring season. “Microcystin is at 0.4 ug/L, which is significantly lower than the WADOH and EPA recreational guidance level of 8 ug/L,” said DCH Environmental Health Program Manager Andrew Maycumber.

The US Army Corps of Engineers is preparing to release waters into Russell Creek to prepare the reservoir for flood control. Although anatoxin-a levels have not been detected and microcystin levels have remained very low, as a precaution, the Walla Walla County Department of Community Health recommends not having livestock or pets drink from Russell Creek during the drain. The drain of Bennington Lake will begin Monday, November 8 and will slowly be drained for up to a month.

Bennington Lake has been closed since late September due to cyanobacteria safety concerns.