PINTO LAKE, THE POPULAR OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL AREA IN WATSONVILLEMAY BE THE MOST TOXIC LAKE IN THE STATE. THE LAKE IS FULL OF BLUE GREEN ALGAE BLOOMS ALSO KNOWN AS CYANOBACTERIA. ACCORDING TO RECENT STUDIES, NITROGEN AND PHOSPHOROUS DUMPED IN THE LAKE 100 YEARS AGO AS WELL AS RECENT STORM RUN-OFF CONTAINING SEWAGE AND CHEMICALS FROM NEARBY AGRICULTURE MAY HAVE HELPED INCREASE THE LAKE’S TOXICITY. THESE HIGH LEVELS FEED THE CYANOBACTERIA WHICH CREATES THE TOXINS. SIGNS ARE POSTED AROUND THE LAKE WARNING THAT DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE LAKE IS DANGEROUS. ACCORDING TO WATER QUALITY SPECIALISTS, DUE TO THE COMPLEX NATURE OF THE PROBLEM, THERE IS NO QUICK FIX SOLUTION.
