It was early in the summer that I shared an alert from the Oregon Health Authority that “blue green algae” cyanotoxins were confirmed in a number of Oregon waterways. That advisory has since been lifted but it was widely reported that the contamination was the result of the unseasonably high temperatures we experienced in late spring and early summer.
The heatwave affected all of the western part of the country and in the Pacific Northwest on some days we registered high temperatures equal to some Southwestern desert locations.
It was in that timeframe that me and my wife, Tami, traveled to Idaho to float and fish the famous Middle Fork of the Salmon River.
The Middle Fork is a six-day, 100-mile river trip through a deep and spectacular river canyon. It was hot and in the 100-degree ambient air temperature the river water would spike up to nearly 70 degrees by mid-day, knocking the fish right down to the bottom of the river.
To protect the fish, warm water regulations were in place limiting our fishing to morning and evening sessions. Though not the greatest conditions for fish, it was apparently much friendlier to other forms of aquatic life.
Now blue green algae is not common in whitewater rivers like the Middle Fork of the Salmon River; the water flushes through the river canyon, constantly churning and oxygenating. And I didn’t swim in the river but I did vigorously shower each afternoon under a wilderness shower filled with river water. Even though the river was clear of blue green algae, a multitude of other bacteria can thrive at that temperature and some of those also find humans as a suitable host.
In my case the bacteria incubated for about two weeks.
There were small patches of growing fungus that traveled up my ear canal, resulting in an annoying condition called, “otitis externa” or more commonly called, “swimmers ear.”
Being in-or-on the water has been my way of life. I grew up on the beach and much of my career river guiding was spent over on the Deschutes River. Where I entertained trout and steelhead anglers on four and five day wilderness float trips. We would drift and fish down river, camping along the river bank each evening and always set out the wilderness shower system.
Even with all those exposures, I had never developed a water induced ear infection and did not realize what was happening to me when I finally did.
First my left ear; several days later, my right ear became infected, too. Headache, jaw pain … for me the wind blowing into my ear was painful … and you just feel bad.
The good thing is the bacteria, in most cases, is easily treated. My healthcare provider directed me to an over the counter remedy. They also advised me to be patient, that the condition can persist for a couple of weeks after you begin treatment. It can also reoccur if you don’t completely eliminate the bacteria. My healthcare provider also explained that although the symptoms are usually mild, they are becoming more common and could develop into more serious illness.
Americans have been getting “swimmers ear” for decades, they get it from swimming pools, lakes, rivers, and the ocean.
The unfortunate fact is that our climate is changing, becoming warmer and as we are now seeing, so is the prevalence of waterborne illnesses.
Frank Armendariz is an outdoors writer for The Chronicle.
