Idaho’s Brownlee and Hells Canyon reservoirs under health advisory

By: Abigail Gerstein

Outlets: Idaho Capital Sun

Published: July 21, 2026

Words: 318

Last Updated: 4 weeks, 1 day ago

Idaho’s Department of Health and Welfare advised recreationists to stay out of Brownlee and Hells Canyon reservoirs on Monday, after recent samples revealed high amounts of toxin-producing cyanobacteria.

Monday’s advisory comes after the department issued the same warning for Crane Creek Reservoir in Washington County earlier this month.

The advisories show the continuing effects of a harmful algal bloom season, which lasts the length of the summer. All three reservoirs tested for …

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