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No word yet on cause of dog's death

Preliminary water test results from Marion Reservoir showed a low to moderate concentration of toxins in the water.

Marion County Sanitarian Bobbi Strait reported Monday to Marion County Commission that samples taken from Suderman's Cove and a swim beach area showed a moderate concentration of toxins, and samples from Oil Creek Cove was low.

Twelve species of algae were found in the water, which is common, Strait said.

No official results from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers testing have been revealed. The test results from one of the dogs also has not been announced.

The tests were a result of four dogs reportedly drinking lake water the weekend of July 6-7, becoming ill, and three of the dogs dying. Water samples were pulled at that time but since then the water has changed numerous times because of wind and rain.

Strait said she and commissioner Dan Holub were at Cottonwood Point Thursday night and observed cloudy water where there was an obvious concentration level of algae that hadn't bloomed and died yet, Strait said. By Friday morning, when U.S. Army Corps officials went to inspect the area, the evidence was gone.

"I hesitate to close beaches unless I have data to back it up," Strait said. She added that she had observed an algae bloom at Cottonwood Point with the presence of foam which is indicative of dying algae.

Toxins aren't released until algae dies.

"If ingested while the algae is still alive, would it die in the stomach, release toxins, and cause illness?" Strait asked. "Maybe the dogs drank that and that's what caused their deaths."

With that, she asked the commission to consider a purchase of $8,360 in water monitoring equipment that would be used for taking water samples and determining toxin levels.

"It's an environmental public health issue," Strait said. Without the equipment, there is no scientific evidence to back up suspect water toxins.

Holub said it is believed that the county has the authority to close the beaches because the county is responsible for county health. Strait will double-check with the state to verify the county's responsibility.

Strait will check into grant funding for the equipment.

"I'm not sure if what caused the dogs' deaths matters at this point because whatever was there is not there now," Strait said.

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