Toxic algae resembling ‘green cottage cheese’ may be spreading in Rhode Island waters

A 30-acre reservoir in western Rhode Island has been declared off limits after state health officials discovered it was rife with a toxic blue-green algae linked to illness and nervous-system damage in humans.

The J.L. Curran Reservoir, five miles south of Providence, may not be the only tainted spot, however.

The blue-green algae bloom (cyanobacteria) may be spreading and the R.I. Department of Health is warning people to avoid any body of water that exhibits “bright green coloration” or “dense floating algal mats.”

“The water may look like green paint, thick pea soup, or green cottage cheese,” the department said in a release.

In the case of J.L. Curran Reservoir, the public has been told not to drink or even touch the water, and to avoid eating fish from it.

“All recreation, including fishing, boating and kayaking, should be avoided,” the state said in a release. “Pets can also be affected by exposure to the algal toxins, so owners should not allow pets to drink or swim in the water. The advisory will remain in effect until further notice.”

Dogs died last year in North Carolina, Georgia and Texas after ingesting water tainted with the algae.In May, a dog died after swimming in a pond filled with the algae in Minneapolis, according to the American Kennel Club.

The Environmental Protection Agency says the algal blooms have been a problem in all 50 states and have been blamed for creating “dead zones in the water.” The blooms are fed by sunlight, still water and nutrients, including “nutrient pollution from human activities,” the EPA says.

Even skin contact is hazardous and “causes irritation of the skin, nose, eyes, and/or throat,” Rhode Island officials said.

“Common health effects associated with ingesting water containing algal toxins include stomach ache, diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. Rarer health effects include dizziness, headache, fever, liver damage, and nervous system damage,” the state said in its release.

“People who have had contact with Upper J.L. Curran Reservoir and experience those symptoms should contact their healthcare provider,” officials said.

This story was originally published July 27, 2020 at 2:41 PM.