A California river where a couple and their young child died last month was shut down due to toxic algae. An emergency closure order from the Bureau of Land Management Mother Lode Field Office closed off all lands managed by the agency along the Merced River between Briceburg and Bagby. The reason for the closure was cited as toxic algal blooms. River access will stay blocked off until Sept. 17, though the closure could be extended if conditions change. “These algal blooms can produce toxins that can make people and pets extremely sick. We will continue to monitor for the algae’s presence and look forward to when the public can safely recreate in the Merced River,” Elizabeth Meyer-Shields, manager of the field office, said in a statement on Sept. 3. The section of the river sits in Merced County and is the same area where John Gerrish, Ellen Chung, their 1-year-old daughter …