Tag: Green Lake

Seattle Firefighters Hit the Books to Promote Children’s Literacy

Seattle-The Seattle Fire Department is partnering with the Seattle Public Library for a reading program aimed at increasing literacy, and raising awareness of home fire safety. The Firefighter Story Times at the Seattle Public Library is part of October’s Fire Prevention Month. Seattle Firefighters will read No Dragons for Tea to dozens of preschool children at the Seattle Public Library branches across the city.. Important safety messages include “Firefighters are your friend”, “Crawl low under smoke” and “Get out and stay out”.

For more than a decade, Seattle Firefighters have volunteered for literacy events at various Seattle Public Library’s and Seattle Public Schools. The Firefighter Story Times are part of a month long push to educate the young people of the city and their families on fire safety tips. Preschool children are especially vulnerable to fire and burn injuries. During the month of October, Seattle Firefighters are reading to preschoolers at 10 different libraries throughout the city. Click on this link for more information on the Story Times: Story Time or the Seattle Channel.

Rainier Beach Branch
with Fire Chief Dean
9125 Rainier Ave. S
Monday, October 6
10:30 AM

Ballard Branch
5614 22nd Ave N.W.
Wednesday, October 8
10:30 AM

Douglass-Truth Branch
2300 E. Yesler Way
Thursday, October 9
10:30 AM

Capitol Hill Branch
425 Harvard Ave E.
Monday, October 13
10:30 AM

South Park Branch
8604 Eighth Ave S at S. Cloverdale St.
Wednesday, October 15
11:15 AM

Central Library
2401 24th Ave. E.
Thursday, October 16
11:00 AM

Green Lake Branch
5009 Roosevelt Way NE.
Wednesday, October 22
11:15 AM
High Point Branch
2821 Beacon Ave. S.
Thursday, October 23
11:30 AM

Northeast Branch
8016 Greenwood Ave N
Tuesday, October 28
10:30 AM

New Holly Branch
7048 32nd Ave S
Thursday, October 30
11:00 AM

Green Lake closed to swimming, water contact due to toxic algae

The level of toxins in the algae at Green Lake has increased and has prompted parks and Public Health officials to close the lake to swimming and water contact for people and dogs.

People and pets should not swim, wade or play in the lake. Dog owners should be especially cautious not to allow animals to go in or drink from the lake. If there is water contact for a pet, it is important to rinse well to remove all algae.

Symptoms of illness from contacting the toxins in water are eye, nose, and mouth irritation and skin rash. If accidental contact occurs, use clean water to promptly rinse skin. Swallowing the toxins may cause abdominal pain, diarrhea vomiting and in severe cases liver damage.  If symptoms occur after swallowing lake water, park users should consult a health care professional or veterinarian immediately. Pets are at highest risk.

Tests have revealed that high levels of toxins are currently found in the algae and are higher in areas where algae collect.  King County Department of Natural Resources has been conducting weekly testing of water at various locations around Green Lake as well as scum samples submitted through the State Toxic Algae Program. After each test, the information is reviewed by Public Health – Seattle & King County.

The lake remains open to fishing (though fish should be thoroughly cleaned) and boating in stable boats. Avoid areas of scum when boating.

Seattle Parks and Recreation’s lifeguarded beaches closed for the season on Sept. 1.

A warm, dry summer has promoted the algae bloom, and continued warm weather continues to promote it. Blooms have been known to last into November in particularly warm autumns, and typically disappear as the weather gets colder.

Toxic algae blooms appeared at Green Lake in 1999, 2002, 2003, 2012 and in 2013, resulting in warnings to the public about exposure to the algae. Intense blooms of blue-green algae have occurred in Green Lake since 1916. Phosphorus released from the bottom sediments stimulates algae growth. Treating the lake with alum inactivates the phosphorus that is released from the bottom sediments and prevents stimulation of the algae growth. Green Lake was successfully treated with alum in 1991 and 2004. The water quality improved for several years following treatment on both occasions, and has been mostly good since 2004.

Green Lake is home to cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae that are regularly present in small numbers. When nutrients are plentiful and the weather is warm, the conditions are right for an algae bloom to take place. Winds can concentrate the buoyant cyanobacteria into accumulations or scums along the shoreline, which may increase the amount of toxin that could be ingested by pets or people using the lake recreationally.

For more information on cyanobacteria, please visit Washington Department of Health toxic algae website.

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Green Lake algae scum found; water only harmful where scum is found

Toxic algae has been found in accumulated scum along the shores of Green Lake; however the lake is not closed and remains open to most activities.

King County Department of Natural Resources has been conducting weekly testing of water collected at the east and west swimming beaches at Green Lake as well as scum samples submitted through the State Toxic Algae Program. After each test, the information is reviewed by Public Health – Seattle & King County. At this time, Public Health has not recommended closure. Tests have revealed that the toxins are currently found in the scummy algae that accumulate in some places along the lakeshore.

People and pets should not wade or play in the lake where the scum has accumulated. Dog owners should be especially cautious not to allow animals to drink from the lake in these areas. If there is water contact for a pet, it is important to rinse well to remove all algae.

The lake remains open to fishing, boating, stand-up paddling boarding and other recreational activities. While Seattle Parks and Recreation’s lifeguarded beaches remain open. The last day of operation for East Green Lake Beach is August 24. The last day of operation for West Green Lake Beach is September 1.

A warm, dry summer has promoted the algae bloom, and continued warm weather continues to promote it. Blooms have been known to last into November in particularly warm autumns, and typically disappear as the weather gets colder.

The lake was closed in 1999, 2002, 2003, 2012 and most recently in fall 2013 for toxic algae blooms. Intense blooms of blue-green algae have occurred in Green Lake since 1916.

Treating the lake with alum inactivates the phosphorus that is released from the bottom sediments and prevents stimulation of the algae growth. Green Lake was successfully treated with alum in 1991 and 2004. The water quality improved for several years following treatment on both occasions, and has been mostly good since 2004.

Green Lake is home to cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae that are regularly present in small numbers. When nutrients are plentiful and the weather is warm, the conditions are right for an algae bloom to take place. Winds can concentrate the buoyant cyanobacteria into accumulations or scums along the shoreline, which may increase the amount of toxin that could be ingested by pets or people using the lake recreationally.

Symptoms of illness from liver toxin are flu-like and may include abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting.  If symptoms occur after ingesting lake water, park users should consult a health care professional immediately. Pets are at highest risk.

For more information on cyanobacteria, please visit Washington Department of Health toxic algae website.

 

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Green Lake Water Rescue

August 8—Seattle Fire Department’s Technical Rescue Dive Team pulled two unconscious young males from Green Lake Thursday night after more than a half-hour water rescue search.

At 9:30 p.m. a 911 call came into dispatchers at the Fire Alarm Center reporting a possible drowning on the east end of Green Lake near the pool. When firefighter arrived they learned two young males were missing after reportedly struggling in the water about 50 yards off shore.

Witnesses saw four young men swimming in the water near a buoy. Two men came to shore. Two others stayed in the water and went under without coming back up. The witnesses, who were also swimming in the water, rushed to help. They attempted to dive and rescue the missing men but were unable to locate them. These witnesses provided vital location information to first responders which helped divers pinpoint the last known location of the victims.

Using the last known location of the victims, two Seattle Fire Divers and two Seattle Police Harbor Patrol Divers searched for the men using a grid-like pattern Also assisting on the water were, two Seattle Fire surface swimmers and firefighters in a small boat. About 30 minutes later, an approximately 24-year-old male was found about 20 feet from the initial location where he was last spotted. Rescuers rushed the unconscious, unresponsive male to a waiting medic unit where paramedics and firefighters performed CPR on the way to Harborview Medical Center’s Emergency Room.

About 10 minutes later a second man was pulled from the water. He was found near the first male victim. Medics rushed the approximately 21-year-old male to Harborview Medical Center with ongoing CPR. Both males were found in 17 feet of water. The water temperature was 80 degrees.

One of the challenges for rescue crews was low visibility under and nearly a foot of silt at the bottom of the lake.

Seattle Fire and Police Chaplains were called to the scene to assist the family and friends of the victim.