Health Advisory Lifted for CJ Strike in Owyhee/Elmore Counties

NEWS RELEASE

October 29, 2020

Health Advisory Lifted for CJ Strike in Owyhee/Elmore Counties

Central District Health (CDH), Southwest District Health (SWDH), and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) have lifted a health advisory for CJ Strike Reservoir, which has access points in both Owyhee and Elmore Counties. The advisory was issued on September 18, 2020 due to a harmful algal bloom (HAB). After regular monitoring, and water sample collection and testing, DEQ confirmed levels have returned to normal and toxin levels are below the safety threshold.
Public health and DEQ advise water users to be cautious in and around areas where a bloom may still be visible — always use caution around water bodies with visible slime, surface scum, or a foul odor. High concentrations of toxin-producing cyanobacteria may cause illness to both humans and animals.
For information on cyanobacteria blooms, how to report suspicious water, and a map of recreational water quality health advisories in Idaho, visit www.deq.idaho.gov/recreation-health-advisories. Many harmful algal blooms are identified through public reporting. If you suspect a bloom on a recreational water body in Idaho, report it to DEQ at https://cyanos.org/bloomwatch/.

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Contacts:

Christine Myron, Public Information Officer | Central District Health
(208) 871-1712 |  cmyron@cdh.idaho.gov

Katrina Williams, Media Contact | Southwest District Health
(208) 455-5317 | Katrina.Williams@phd3.idaho.gov