SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — Tests conducted last week at two Lake Tahoe beaches did not detect toxins associated with harmful algae, but a toxin was detected in a shallow Nevada pond not connected to the lake, state water officials said Tuesday.
On July 3, a woman posted a video to TikTok claiming her dog consumed and died from poison blue-green algae after swimming in Lake Tahoe. The video amassed 7.5 million views in five days. The woman reported she believed the incident occurred at either El Dorado Beach or Nevada Beach.
On July 8, warning signs for harmful algae, or harmful algal blooms (HABs), went up at El Dorado Beach and water samples were collected by the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board.
California water officials said last week they found no visible sign of a new algae bloom at the beach after testing multiple locations prior to the Fourth of July.
Across state lines, the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) also collected samples at Nevada Beach. Both state agencies collected samples for a second time Wednesday, July 10.
“At Nevada Beach, results for a sample taken from a shallow pond not connected to the lake contained a very low level of a cyanotoxin called saxitoxin,” state officials said Tuesday in a press release. “The pond is partially fenced off and the Lahontan Water Board and NDEP are recommending further fencing to prevent dogs and their owners from accessing the area.”
Severe poisoning from saxitoxin can cause nausea, vomiting, paralysis and respiratory failure, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The NDEP has issued a “HAB Watch” advisory specific to the backwater pond at Nevada Beach, authorities said.
There are no other advisories recommended at El Dorado or Nevada beaches.
State agencies said they will not draw conclusions about the dog's cause of death from the test results alone and will continue investigating the incident.
Tahoe officials urge the public to remain vigilant when visiting bodies of water and be aware of how to identify harmful, toxic algae. A photo-specific guide can be found HERE.
Toxic algae blooms can be reported HERE. California algal bloom reports can be found HERE, and reports in Nevada are available HERE.
