BFHD closes Scooteney Reservoir in Franklin Co.

The Benton-Franklin Health District has closed the Scooteney Reservoir in north Franklin County due to toxic levels of blue-green algae.

The body of water has been shut down to people and animals for the past several years when the warm weather triggers the bloom of Microcystin, exposure to which can be fatal.

According to the BFHD, people and animals are exposed by ingesting the water. Symptoms may take 30 minutes to 24 hours to appear, depending upon the size of the person/animal affected and the amount of toxins consumed. Exposure may result in jaundice, shock, abdominal pain/distention, weakness, nausea/vomiting, severe thirst, rapid/weak pulse and death.

Scooteney Reservoir visitors are cautioned to keep children and pets out of the water until further testing shows the toxins reduced to safe levels.

Typically, the toxin remains in the water for about a week after the bloom disappears.