The Oregon Health Authority on Tuesday, Jan. 14, ended the recreational use health advisory for the Powder River arm of Brownlee Reservoir that had been in effect since Sept. 5 due to toxic cyanobacteria in an algae bloom.

With the reservoir partially frozen, there is no need for the advisory, according to OHA.

OHA advises people to watch for signs of cyanobacteria blooms, which can appear on any water body at any time when conditions are favorable.

These are more common during the summer.

Only a fraction of water bodies in Oregon are monitored for blooms and toxins. Visitors can learn more about recognizing blooms at www.healthoregon.org/hab.

When recreating, people, and especially small children and pets, should avoid areas where the water is foamy, scummy, thick like paint, pea-green or blue-green, or if thick brownish-red mats are visible or bright green clumps are suspended in the water.

If you see these signs, avoid activities that cause you to swallow water or inhale droplets, such as swimming or high-speed water activities, and keep pets out of the area.

Cyanotoxins can still exist in clear water. When a bloom dies, toxins released may reach into clear water around the bloom. Blooms can be pushed into other areas, leaving toxins behind. There also are species of cyanobacteria that anchor themselves at the bottom of a water body, live in the sediment, or can grow on aquatic plants and release toxins into clear water.