The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is alerting the public that fishing, swimming and other in-the-water activities are closed at Anderson Lake State Park in Jefferson County. The public is also advised to keep pets out of the lake.
The state park remains open for land-based recreation such as picnicking, hiking, biking and horseback riding.
Last Friday, May 9, the Jefferson County’s health department found high levels of the nerve toxin anatoxin-a in water samples. The toxin occurs in blue-green algae that periodically blooms in the lake. Anderson Lake has been closed off and on since the county started monitoring for the algae in 2007.
Anderson Lake had just opened on April 26 for lowland trout fishing. While the closure is disappointing, Washington State Parks wants to make sure people and pets are safe.
The lake will reopen after county health department tests show that water quality is safe for recreation.
More information about the recent closure is on Jefferson County Public Health’s website: jeffersoncountypublichealth.org/index.php?anderson-lake-closed
For questions or concerns about toxic algae on lakes in the county, the public should contact Jefferson County Public Health at (360) 385-9444 or check their web page for updates: jeffersoncountypublichealth.org/index.php?lake-water-quality
For fishing seasons and license requirements, visit Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s website: ww.wdfw.wa.gov/fishing.
About Anderson Lake State Park
The 476-acre park is open for day-use only and is located in eastern Jefferson County near Chimacum. Learn more about the park: http://www.parks.wa.gov/240/Anderson-Lake
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