State officials are testing the water at Centennial Park after a suspected harmful algal bloom appeared on the surface of the pond, and experts are urging visitors to avoid any contact with the water until results come back.
Metro Parks posted warning signs around Watauga Lake on Thursday, warning people to keep children and pets away from the water while testing is underway. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation collected water samples to determine exactly what is floating in the pond.
Experts say the green layer could be blue-green algae, which can release dangerous toxins into the water. Scientists warn those toxins can attack the liver and central nervous system, make people sick, and in some cases kill pets within a day…