Toxic Algae At Jordan Lake Kills A Dog, State Conducts Tests

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) – This past weekend, Rick Cobb planned a boating tour with several other boaters, according to a comment on the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s website. His group was near the Farrington Point boat launch ramp.

Cobb said a beagle in the group he was with began to experience respiratory issues, a fast heart rate, and bloating. In Cobb’s citizen report to the agency, he said he believed the dog entered the early stages of cyanobacteria toxin poisoning due to her vomiting, over-salivation,  liver failure, eventual seizure, and untimely death – all within an hour.

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The NCDEQ received the complaint and had the water tested on Monday. Jordan Lake regular Bob Wehrenberg takes his dog to the lake almost daily. However, after news of the weekend’s death, he’s reviewing how pleased he and his dog will be with the water.

Wehrenberg said, “Now that I’ve heard that, he’s going to have to stay out of the water for a little bit until we find out what’s going on out here.”  “Right now, I think the most important thing is to get the word out to everybody that they know something is going on and have everybody be very cautious until we get a definitive answer from wildlife or whoever.”

On Monday, other visitors to the lake were shocked by a warning from officials about the potential danger in the water.

“We just thought they’d put a sign out there warning everybody…it’s concerning,” said one man. “I wish they’d be more informative about what’s going on.”

Cyanobacteria is a dangerous toxin for humans and can be lethal in animals when blue-green algal blooms form. According to NCDEQ, traces of said bacteria are usual during the summer.

Field crews conducted a water test on Monday that did not result in any visible signs of algae in the area. A rapid test, however, did indicate some potential toxin-producing cyanobacteria were present in the water. But, the amount in “bloom quantities” was not enough that could have led to the dog’s death.

The Division of Water Resources with NCDEQ will run additional tests in its chemistry lab to determine if there is any concentration of microcystin and the number of algal cells present