Officials at Lake Mendocino announced Wednesday that swimming is now allowed at the lake, after test results revealed nothing of concern in the water.
According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers San Francisco District, tests completed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife on both samples of the water and of the dead carp that were found at the lake over Memorial Day weekend came back “negative for viruses, toxins and pesticides, and the water quality was determined to be acceptable.
Hundreds of dead carp lined the shores of the lake the weekend of May 24, and the USACE reported at the time that the cause was believed to be the Koi herpes virus.
Supervisory Ranger Chris Schooley said although the Koi herpes virus was not detected in the fish, the USACE still “believes that was the likely cause of the fish die-off, because of the symptoms.”
Schooley said “based on the test results and the fact that no more fish are dying, we feel there is no further reason to prohibit swimming at this time,” adding that the people wanting to use the lake are encouraged to “wear life jackets when on, or near, the water.”
Schooley also urged users to remember that use of fireworks is illegal at Lake Mendocino.
Despite the boat ramps remaining closed, he said lots of people are using the lake so far this summer.
“We have a pretty robust schedule,” he said. “Our campgrounds are about 80- to 90-percent full.”
Swimming ban lifted at Lake Mendocino
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