Pet Owners Warned Of Potentially Lethal Algae At Austin Waterways

AUSTIN, TX — Police this week reminded dog owners of the presence of harmful toxins in algae in some watering holes — the same that killed a handful of dogs last year — in urging dog owners to avoid those areas.

The blue-green algae recently was found at Auditorium Shores and Festival Beach + Red Bud Isle. "Do not allow dogs to swim in Lady Bird Lake or drink the water," the Austin Police Department wrote on Twitter. "Avoid stagnant areas of the lake + don’t handle algae."

Watershed Protection Department officials last month said they have received results from recently tested algae that showed the presence of toxins at Lady Bird Lake. The algae sampled on July 14 by University of Texas at Austin researchers confirmed the presence of dihydroanatoxin from Festival Beach and Red Bud Isle.

As a result, officials said additional signage is being placed along Lady Bird Lake to help alert the public to the presence of toxins. "We recommend that dog owners not allow their pets to swim in or drink from Lady Bird Lake," city officials wrote at the time. "People should avoid handling the algae."

Previous coverage:

• Officials Find More Deadly Algae In Austin Waterways
• Toxins Detected In Algae At Lady Bird Lake
• Dogs' Deaths Led To Animal Ban At Lady Bird Lake In Austin
• Austin Woman Describes Dog's Death At Algae-Infested Lake

The same toxins led to the deaths of several dogs last summer. Dihydroanatoxin is one of several possible toxins that cyanobacteria, also called blue green algae, can produce, officials explained. It is the same toxin that was produced last year that led to fatalities of several dogs in what some pet owners described as an agonizing death after their pets ingested toxins in affected sites while frolicking in the water.

Warnings about the toxin are heightened in urgency given an ongoing reach of the coronavirus that has led many to stay home for extended periods in practicing social distancing save for carefully planned weekend jaunts, sometimes with pets, to break up the tedium of self-isolation. While such physical activity is encouraged — as long as protective face coverings among others are used and physical distancing is observed — the algae-ridden waterways are to be avoided in ensuring pets' safety.

A stone's throw away from the Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Rd., Auditorium Shores should be avoided when walking dogs given the presence of potentially lethal toxins found in the water.

Red Bud Isle also should be avoided when walking dogs as toxins in blue-green algae that could be deadly to dogs was detected there as well.

Fed by the Colorado River, Festival Beach is another spot where toxic algae has been found.