How to report and test a bloom
Toxic algae caution sign at Lake Hicks
Sampling a bloom event
This program is managed by the Washington State Department of Ecology. The King County Environmental Laboratory provides analytical testing and sample kit shipping under contract.
The decision to accept or decline a sample request is made by the Washington State Department of Ecology, local health department and county lake experts. To report a bloom and start the sampling process
please reach out to your local county representatives https://www.nwtoxicalgae.org/Contact.aspx. If a county representative is not available, please email a photo of the suspected cyanobacteria bloom
to Lizbeth Seebacher at lsee461@ecy.wa.gov before generating a sample number.
Directions can be found here about
how to collect the sample and how to send or deliver it to the laboratory. It is very important for
you to carefully follow the directions.
When collecting the sample, be sure to fill out the data
sheet and send it along with your sample to the King County Environmental Lab.
To start the sampling process please use the
automated sample number generator and follow the instructions.
Marisa Burghdoff – Lake Ketchum
Once a sample is at the laboratory, specialists will identify the algae species. If the
sample contains an algae known to produce toxins, the laboratory will run a toxin analysis on the
sample and you may be asked to send in more samples. Be aware that Ecology cannot reimburse postage
or delivery costs but does pay for laboratory analyses.
Resampling a bloom event
If you are submitting a follow-up sample for a lake that has already been tested in previous week(s),
please follow the directions above. Please sample only one week after the toxin levels return below
recreational levels. Samples will be approved by Ecology before testing.
Please work through Ecology. The laboratory will not accept outside samples through the Ecology
program unless they have been approved by Ecology.
For more information please contact:
Ecology
To request sample bottle kit