Willow Creek Reservoir algae bloom status

Willow Creek Reservoir algae bloom history

The Oregon Health Authority has issued 15 advisories and precautions for Willow Creek Reservoir since 2010, covering 12 of the 15 years from 2010 to 2024.

15 were recreational use health advisories, issued when toxins or cyanobacteria are above Oregon's guideline values for people.

That puts Willow Creek Reservoir 1st of the 30 Oregon lakes on this site for the number of years with blooms.

Recent Willow Creek Reservoir algae reports

What the Oregon results mean

The Oregon Health Authority issues two kinds of notice for waterbodies it monitors.

Health advisory

Toxins or cyanobacteria are above Oregon's recreational guideline values for people. Avoid swimming and water activities that could make you swallow water, and keep pets and children out.

Precaution

Toxins are below the guidelines for people but still above Oregon's guideline values for dogs. Keep pets away from blooms and avoid foamy, scummy or paint-like water.

Is Willow Creek Reservoir safe for dogs?

Dogs are at the greatest risk from toxic algae. They swallow water while swimming, eat scum on the shore and lick algae off their fur afterwards, and a small amount can kill a dog within hours. With blooms recorded in 12 different years here, take particular care at Willow Creek Reservoir.

• Keep your dog on a lead near water that looks green, scummy, foamy or discoloured, and away from algae washed up on the shore.
• If your dog gets in, rinse it straight away with clean water and don't let it lick its coat.
• Call a vet immediately if your dog vomits, drools, has diarrhoea, staggers, shakes or seems weak after being near the water.

Read the full guide to toxic algae and dogs: symptoms, what to do in the first minutes and how vets treat it.

Health effects of toxic algae

Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) can produce toxins that affect the liver, nervous system and skin. Swallowing water during a bloom can cause stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. Skin contact can cause rashes, and breathing spray from the water can irritate the eyes, nose and throat. Children are at higher risk because they are smaller and more likely to swallow water.

How to spot a bloom

Toxic blooms can look like pea soup, spilled paint or green streaks on the surface, and they can also be blue, brown, white or red. Scum often collects along the shore downwind. If you can't see your feet in knee-deep water, or you aren't sure, stay out.

Don't drink untreated lake water, and don't boil it to make it safe: boiling doesn't destroy algal toxins. If you feel unwell after contact with the water, contact a doctor or Poison Control on 1-800-222-1222.

Questions about Willow Creek Reservoir

Is there algae in Willow Creek Reservoir right now?

Oregon's archive has no advisory for Willow Creek Reservoir in 2025. The last was a health advisory in 2024. Oregon publishes its data once a year, so for today's conditions check the OHA current advisories page and the signs at the shore.

When was the last algae bloom at Willow Creek Reservoir?

The most recent entry in Oregon's data is from 20 November 2024 at Microcystin, 34 ug/L: a health advisory.

Has Willow Creek Reservoir had toxic algae before?

Yes. Blooms are recorded in 12 of the 15 years from 2010 to 2024.

Can dogs swim in Willow Creek Reservoir?

Keep dogs out of the water whenever a bloom is reported or the water looks green, scummy or discoloured. Dogs are the animals most often killed by algal toxins because they swallow water and lick their fur. If your dog swims in water that might have algae, rinse it with clean water and call a vet if it vomits, drools, staggers or seems weak.

Can you eat fish caught in Willow Creek Reservoir during a bloom?

If you keep fish caught during a bloom, health agencies advise removing the guts and liver and rinsing the fillets in clean water before cooking, because toxins collect most in the organs. Some agencies advise not eating fish from an active bloom at all, so follow local guidance.