After widespread concern earlier this summer about toxic algae in Lake Tahoe, there is now another Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB), this time in Virginia Lake in Reno

Both pets and humans should avoid direct contact with the water, the city said. The seasonal occurrence is expected to clear by mid-November.

The City of Reno says Virginia Lake is experiencing a seasonal harmful algal bloom. They say that while this is a common occurrence during the late summer and early fall, people and their pets should still avoid direct contact with the water for the next two months until the bloom clears up.

City staff are coordinating water quality sampling efforts with the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) as part of the NDEP Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) program. Recent tests show Virginia Lake has enough cyanotoxins to trigger a warning under the HAB Advisory.

A harmful algae bloom has formed on Ford Lake and contains toxins that could be harmful to humans or animals, the department said. The lake is in Ypsilanti Charter Township and borders the city of Ypsilanti.

People and pets are advised to avoid swallowing lake water and touching algae or scum on the lake, health officials say.