Nicola Lake algae bloom leaves three dogs dead | Daily Hive

Three dogs have died and owners demand answers about toxic algae in B.C. lake

Georgia was three and a half years old when she died due to toxic algae on June 30. (Supplied)

Three dogs have died and five others have reportedly fallen seriously ill following exposure to a toxic algae bloom at Nicola Lake near Merritt, B.C., over the July long weekend.

And now, dog owners and others worry another tragedy could be brewing and are demanding answers and action, claiming there have only been vague advisories and inadequate signage.

What is blue-green algae?

According to the B.C. government, blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, bloom as thick green, blue, or turquoise scum on the surface of lakes and ponds.

The blooms thrive in warm, nutrient-rich water, especially during heat waves and dry spells.

Close-up of blue-green algae or cyanobacteria. (Ray Hugo Tang/Shutterstock)

These blooms can release potent liver toxins that are particularly toxic to pets. Even brief contact or ingestion can cause vomiting, seizures, organ failure, and death.

In humans, symptoms may include rashes, nausea, and respiratory issues.

Beloved pet dies suddenly

Every July long weekend, Earl and Susan Beugelink visit the cabin their family owns on the shores of Nicola Lake. A secluded property with just five cabins, nestled off a dirt logging road.

Like every year, they brought along their three-year-old Rottweiler, Georgia, who has been part of their family since she was just seven weeks old.

“She was just a very, very sweet girl,” Earl told Daily Hive. “Endearingly naughty, we used to call her. If she didn’t feel like she was getting enough attention, she’d steal a sock and run off with it.”

She adored children, often stopping in her tracks at parks just to be near them. “She especially loved little kids,” Earl said. “When our grandkids stayed over, she’d sleep in their room even though she never normally did. Her instincts were incredible.”

On Monday, June 30, Earl said Georgia spent the morning frolicking in the shallows, snapping playfully at waves from passing boats — her favourite game.

“It was such a beautiful day, we decided to stay a little longer,” Earl said. “She was just loving the water.”

Around noon, they rinsed her off with a hose and brought her up to the deck to dry, adding that she seemed to be in good spirits.

That changed quickly.

Nicola Lake turns green due to the presence of blue-green algae. (Supplied)

They soon noticed her drooling at first slightly, then heavily.

They assumed she might be anxious from the commotion of the long weekend. But as she began to vomit and stumble on the stairs, their concern deepened.

“I picked her up… all 100 pounds of her… and put her in the back seat,” Earl said. “We raced for Kamloops. It felt like forever.”

A tragic vet visit

They called ahead to Phases Veterinary Emergency Hospital, the closest 24-hour clinic, and arrived just before 4 p.m.

Georgia in the arms of Earl Beugelink. (Supplied)

“She couldn’t walk anymore,” Earl said. “I carried her in, and they rushed her to the back.”

According to Earl, the vet informed them that Georgia was the second dog from Nicola Lake that week, showing symptoms of toxic algae exposure. She warned that the toxicity could be fatal within an hour.

Still, the Beugelinks hoped for a miracle. They agreed to a $3,500, 24-hour emergency care plan.

“But within an hour, they called us back,” Susan Beugelink said. “She was declining fast.”

Georgia’s breathing had shifted to her diaphragm — a sign of impending cardiac arrest.

“It was just a horrible sight,” Earl said. “Her tongue was hanging out. Her eyes were glazed. She was struggling to breathe. We were sobbing on the floor with her.”

The vet urged them to act quickly. “I said, ‘We can’t let her go like this.’ So we made the decision,” Earl explained.

“She was heavily sedated already,” he said. “I tried to look in her eyes one last time, but she was already slipping away.”

Georgia was euthanized around 5 p.m.

“It was the worst day of our lives,” he recounted. “And it was my birthday.”

Since her death, the Beugelinks say their grief has been overwhelming.

“Our whole life revolved around her,” Susan said. “You get up thinking about the dog, walk the dog, feed the dog. When you’re empty nesters, that becomes your rhythm. Now it’s just quiet.”

“She was our baby,” added Earl. “People who don’t have pets might not understand, but we’ve lost a member of our family.”

Volunteer warns of deepening crisis

Nicola Lake is a short drive from Merritt on Provincial Highway 5A. (Supplied)

Dawne Tomlinson, a community advocate with Stewards of Nicola Lake, has spent the last several years coordinating water monitoring efforts around the lake.

These efforts, she says, have been made necessary by a lack of consistent government oversight.

“There’s no clear jurisdiction,” she told Daily Hive. “Interior Health, the province, and the Upper Nicola Band all point in different directions, but no one takes ownership. Meanwhile, nothing gets done.”

Tomlinson said past efforts to organize formal testing through local groups fell apart due to political fatigue and internal disagreements.

Currently, she and a few dedicated volunteers collect weekly water samples and track clarity and temperature using Level 1 lake testing kits, which are basic and inexpensive.

“But that’s not enough,” she stressed. “We need deeper, higher-grade testing…oxygenation, phosphate levels, full toxin panels. That requires Level 2 or 3 kits, and they cost thousands.”

She believes runoff from cattle operations, golf courses, septic systems, and shoreline fertilization is contributing to the worsening algae blooms.

“Whether it’s farms, fertilized fairways, or leaking septic tanks… It’s all flowing into this watershed. And now the lake’s not flushing like it used to.”

Tomlinson pointed to reduced snowpack and lower water levels over the past five years as additional factors.

“The lake just isn’t turning over anymore. So we’re getting these massive, stagnant blooms… and they’re sticking around for weeks. It’s not just seasonal. It’s structural.”

She also criticized the Province’s vague online advisories and the lack of timely, visible signage during the July long weekend.

“Last week, people were still boating, swimming, letting their dogs in. No one knew. We can’t keep having these ‘silent’ blooms where pets die and no one’s warned.”

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Officials struggle to respond

David Laird, electoral area director (Area M) with the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD), was among the first officials to confirm the recent pet deaths at Nicola Lake.

“The only reason we’re getting any coverage now, especially from the provincial government, is because we’ve had three dogs that have died on the lake,” Laird told Daily Hive, adding that at least five others have reportedly fallen seriously ill in recent weeks.

“What would’ve happened if it had been a small child?”

Laird said he’s frustrated by the jurisdictional confusion that continues to stall meaningful action.

“The provincial government is having a hard time sorting out whose responsibility it is to look after the lake.”

“At first, we were incorrectly informed that signage was the regional district’s responsibility. But we have no jurisdiction over water or lakes.”

Despite his elected position and 18 years as a resident of Nicola Lake, Laird said he’s received no direct communication from provincial ministries about the algae crisis.

“Nobody from Interior Health or the Ministry of Environment has contacted me… not a word. Even as an elected official, nobody’s phoned and talked to me at all,” he said.

In response, Laird and fellow residents are forming a new society called Friends of Nicola Lake to demand clearer accountability, more frequent water testing, and timely public warnings.

“Right now, there is no consistent testing by ministries. They test once in spring and once in fall, missing the entire summer period when blooms actually happen,” Laird said.

“We need regular testing. Until then, we’re relying on volunteers, and that’s not good enough.”

He added that the current signage at Monck Park, which simply states “swim at your own risk,” is inadequate.

“That’s the wrong message. It doesn’t mention pets at all.”

Where were the warnings?

Interior Health (IH) told Daily Hive that an advisory regarding algae blooms at Nicola Lake had been issued by the Upper Nicola Band.

Additionally, BC Parks maintains a permanent sign at Monck Provincial Park due to recurring blooms.

Yet, all four interviewees Daily Hive spoke with – Earl and Susan Beugelink, David Laird, and Dawne Tomlinson – claimed no signage or visible warnings were posted during the busy July long weekend.

“We passed Monck Park by boat on Sunday. It was packed. People were swimming. Dogs were playing,” Susan said.

Residents also criticized the online advisory issued by IH, describing it as vague and insufficiently urgent.

Daily Hive reviewed a cached version of BC Park’s advisory from July 1, confirming it made no mention of risks to pets or children. Those details were added later, although no timestamp of the update was provided.

BC Park has not yet responded to questions about the timing of this update.

“That advisory was vague,” Earl said. “We saw it after the fact, and it didn’t say anything about dogs. It just looked like a routine notice. There was nothing to trigger [the] alarm.”

Interior Health encourages residents to report suspected algae blooms. “In general, if people see a suspected algae bloom, we ask that they report it to Algae Watch.”

Data summaries for Nicola Lake, including water quality and phytoplankton reports, are available through the associated map portal.

A call for change

The Beugelinks say they aren’t trying to place blame, but they are calling for stronger protections, clearer warnings, and long-overdue accountability.

“We’re not activists,” Susan said.

“We’re just grieving. This shouldn’t happen to any family.”

“Our grandkids were in that lake. They were on paddleboards. What if it had been them?” Earl added.

“This can’t keep happening. Somebody has to care.”

In the wake of recent tragedies, the B.C. government and Nicola First Nations announced on July 10, plans for long-term water sustainability.

The plan aims for collaborative, Indigenous-led governance to address ongoing water shortages and ecological threats.

For more information, visit Interior Health or Cyanobacteria – HealthLink BC.

Daily Hive has reached out to the Ministry of Environment and the Upper Nicola Band and will update this story once a response is received.

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