Walkers warned about potential dangers of algae in Loch of Blairs
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WARNING signs has been erected around a local beauty spot.
Moray Council initially put up a notice at Loch of Blairs car park to make visitors aware of the potential dangers of algae in the water - Friends of Blairs Loch followed this up by installing more signage around the area.
A local authority spokeswoman said: "The loch is part of our routine monitoring during the warmer months. Potential blue-green algal blooms can naturally occur in water bodies during periods of prolonged hot weather.
"Due to the Covid-19 situation it was not possible to collect and send samples of the water for analysis. This analysis would confirm or not the presence of significant blue-green algae toxin counts. Therefore, as a precaution, a warning notice was installed."
She added: "The precautionary warning notice gives advice to avoid contact with the potential algal bloom, and the water close to it, as a precaution to protect both public and animal health. It is well publicised that consumption or contact with the toxins of blue-green algae can have detrimental health effects to humans and especially to dogs.
"We will continue to monitor the water body and once we are able to send water samples away for analysis we will confirm the presence or not of significant blue-green algal toxin counts, and signpost the area appropriately."
A spokesperson for volunteers Friends of Blairs Loch added: "We have put up a few signs around the loch warning about the algae in the water just now but there are so many little tracks into the footpath network that we can’t cover them all.
"Please continue to let any of your family and friends know to keep dogs out of the water. "
The Friends of Blairs Loch are a group of volunteers who are working to create a special place for recreation and education. Formed in 2017, they have been working to reopen the water at Loch of Blairs for trout fishing, extending the footpath network around the loch and refurbishing and redeveloping the boat house and adjacent buildings as a field study facility for local schools and groups.
