WALDPORT — The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is recommending that people avoid harvesting and consuming softshell and bay clams from the Alsea Bay estuary after the Oregon Health Authority issued a recreational use advisory for Eckman Lake.
The OHA issued an advisory Aug. 28 because of the presence of cyanobacteria and very high levels of paralytic shellfish toxin. It warned people to avoid swimming and other water activities with a high risk of swallowing water or inhaling water in areas of the lake where blooms are present.
With Eckman Lake draining directly into the Alsea Bay estuary and that saxitoxins can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning, ODFW recommended Wednesday that people should avoid harvesting and eating softshell and bay clams harvested from the estuary.
