A hiking trail where a rescuers found a family of three dead in California’s Mariposa County has been closed for safety concerns, reports CBS News.
Investigators have been unable to determine a cause of death since they discovered Ellen Chung, John Gerrish and their one-year-old daughter Miju dead on August 17.
The Bureau of Land Management closed a 28 mile area of its campground and recreation area Friday along the Merced River.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports the BLM found high levels of toxin in samples of the river water.
“When the tests came back positive, we felt we should take action,” said Jeff Horn, of BLM to the Chronicle. “We feel it’s wise to err on the side of caution.”
Algae blooms can make people and pets sick. Authorities also found the family dog dead alongside the family. The algae can form in shallow and warm water
“Is this algae present all the time? Or is this new? How prevalent is it in the rivers on the western slope?” Horn said. “These are all questions we want answers to.”
The closure is in effect through September 17.
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