The Canyon Lake Property Owners Association (POA) is advising the community to temporarily avoid full-body contact with the lake amid the golden algae bloom and fish kill.
“Recent water samples confirmed the presence of a different type of algae called Vorticella, which poses no known health risk to humans,” the POA said. “However, due to the ongoing fish mortality event, combined with an abundance of caution and guidance from GEI water consultants, residents are advised to avoid full-body contact with the lake at this time.”
The advisory follows reports of thousands of dead fish washing ashore throughout various parts of the lake—a situation believed to be caused by a recent golden algae bloom.
The POA is also advising residents not to eat fish caught in Canyon Lake. Additional water testing and fish toxicology results are in progress, with fish-specific findings coming in July.
The POA, in partnership with the City of Canyon Lake, is hosting a community lake cleanup on Saturday, June 7, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. This event aims to collect and dispose of dead fish along the shoreline in an effort to help restore the shoreline and improve the appearance and health of the lake.
Volunteers may pick up gloves and trash bags at the Holiday Harbor Park Marine Dock before heading to any of the following cleanup locations:
- Holiday Harbor Park: Overseen by POA Operations Staff
- Sierra Park: Overseen by the Canyon Lake City Council
- Indian Beach and East Bay: Overseen by the Yacht Club
- East Bay Launch Ramp: Overseen by the Pickleball Club
CR&R is providing dumpsters at no cost, and the city is covering the dump fees.
At 12 p.m., the POA will be serving pizza at Holiday Harbor for all volunteers.
In addition to the organized cleanup areas, the POA is encouraging residents to help by cleaning up around their own docks. Residents who collect dead fish near their docks should bag them and either leave the bags on their dock and contact Marine Patrol for pickup or place them in their driveway and contact Community Patrol.
