Oregon’s summer splash spot at Pettit Reservoir is under a health advisory after state testing found elevated levels of a harmful cyanotoxin in the water.
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) on Friday issued a recreational use health advisory for the Marion County reservoir after recent water samples showed elevated levels of the cyanotoxin microcystin. The move upgrades a precaution first posted on June 24 and warns visitors to steer clear of activities that kick up spray, because ingestion or inhalation of water is the primary exposure risk.
State Testing Found Elevated Microcystin
OHA’s advisory table lists Pettit Reservoir as an “Advisory” site with total microcystin measured at 7.06 µg/L, and notes that a visible bloom prompted the earlier precaution on June 24, according to the Oregon Health Authority. The advisory covers areas of the reservoir where blooms are present and signals that toxin levels are unsafe for swimming and for high-spray boating…