(September 19, 2024- NEWPORT, Ore) – After the Oregon Health Authority issued a recreational use advisory for Eckman Lake in Lincoln County, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife recommends people avoid harvesting and consuming softshell clams from the Alsea Bay estuary.
The OHA advisory is due to the presence of a cyanobacteria bloom and biotoxins above the recreational use values for human exposure. Laboratory analysis also detected high levels of saxitoxins present in the lake’s water.
With Eckman Lake feeding directly to the Alsea Bay estuary and that saxitoxins can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning, ODFW recommends people avoid harvesting and eating softshell clams from the Alsea estuary.
Softshell clams from Alsea Bay will be tested for biotoxin levels with results expected next week.