blue-green algae

As the water heats up, you might start to see lakes – and sometimes rivers – close because of toxic algal blooms. The blooms can make people sick and kill pets. But, a Central Washington team hopes they can solve the problem.

A large algal bloom on the Snake River officially has died off. The toxic algae stretched about 30 miles along the river this past fall.

A harmful algal bloom on the Snake River has spanned nearly 30 miles of the river. The Whitman County health department says it hasn’t seen a bloom like this on the Snake before.

Health officials are testing Tri-Cities, Washington drinking water twice a week for toxic algae since a half-dozen dogs were sickened or died recently after being on the Columbia River. And the rivershore is closed in Howard Amon Park in Richland. But toxic algae is a nationwide problem, and we still have much to learn.

Nothing spoils a summer swim in your favorite lake like an algae bloom. These become more common as the weather warms up. A lake in Federal Way,…