The Health Department has issued a blue-green algae health warning for the River Torrens downstream of the city weir.
That includes Linear Park, where we like to walk, between the Tapleys Hill Road bridge and the river mouth.
This picture shows the river, looking towards the sea from the bridge, at a time of greater flow last year.
According to Wikipedia, blue-green algae is the common term for cyanobacteria.
Originally a building block of life, promoting biodiversity, cyanobacteria has evolved and can be found in almost every terrestrial and aquatic habitat, from oceans to fresh water, from bare rock to soil.
“Cyanobacteria reproduce explosively under certain conditions. This results in algal blooms, which can become harmful to other species if the cyanobacteria involved produce toxins.”
The SA Health warning advises people to avoid contact with water in the River Torrens, downstream from the Torrens Lake Weir, due to the detection of blue green algae.
The warning follows detection of increased numbers of blue-green algae in samples collected from the lake this week.
SA Health’s Director of Public Health, Dr Kevin Buckett, said people should avoid direct contact with the water between the Torrens Lake Weir through to the river mouth at Henley.
“This includes avoiding swimming or putting your feet in the water to cool off. People should also stop their dogs or pets from swimming or drinking the water,” he said.
“Dogs are particularly at risk as the organisms can stick to their coat and owners should keep them away from affected water.”
The algae present produces a toxin that can affect the nervous system and can cause nausea and gastrointestinal upsets if ingested. It can also cause skin rashes and eye irritation.
I have never seen people in the river, except at the mouth, where fishing is popular. Maybe it’s tempting on a hot day for kids to play in the water further upstream.
Horses graze along the river bank. The warning doesn’t mention if they are vulnerable or not.
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Ew. We have a recreational area around here that dammed part of the river and created a sand beach so people could swim and play in the sand. I have photos of it somewhere. I don’t ever remember having a problem with toxic organisms but we have had to vacate the water when snakes swim by. I think they’re called Water Moccasins.
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Interesting… Is this something that can be treated or does nature just have to follow its course for it to subside?
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It seems to just happen in summer and at times of low flow. It’s relatively common in the Gippsland Lakes as well.
In the case of the Torrens it should go away when we get the first good rain in autumn.