AUSTIN, Texas — Crews with Austin's Watershed Protection Department were on Lady Bird Lake and Red Bud Isle on Thursday, teamed with a contractor to spray a clay compound, with the goal of trying to prevent toxic algae from blooming.
"Hopefully, negatively impacting the growth of signs of bacteria should create a cascading effect where there are less toxins out here,” said Dr. Brent Bellinger, the conservation program supervisor with the Watershed Protection Department.
The treatment is part of the department's nutrient mitigation treatment program that is usually done around this time of year. Last month, the department also collected samples at Lake Austin and Lady Bird Lake.
"There are definitely signs of bacteria out here. We have collected samples, and we are awaiting the results to see if they come back toxic or not," Bellinger said.
If there is toxic algae, it can be very dangerous for dogs if ingested.
"Unfortunately, in 2019, we received reports of a number of dogs becoming sick and unfortunately passing away in July, August of that year," Bellinger said.
Bellinger always remind pet owners to be cautious near waterways. When it comes to people, they could also see serious health problems if they ingest the water.
Bellinger said people can be out in the water but need to be aware of their surroundings for things like discolored water and odd smells.