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        September 29, 2023


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Harmful Algae Blooms
New York Department of Environmental Conservation Active HABS Notifications

Active HABs as of September 29, 2023


83 active HABs confirmed in New York State as of 8:52 am Friday

Agawam Lake
  • widespread or lakewide bloom confirmed at the center of the water body in Suffolk County - reported by Stony Brook University at 10.17 am on Sep 20

Arbutus Pond
  • small localized bloom confirmed at the south end of the water body in Essex County - reported by the public at 11.03 am on Sep 27

Basic Creek Reservoir
  • large localized bloom confirmed off the west shore Bear Swamp Rd in Albany County - reported by CAWD at 10.45 am on Sep 20

Beaver Lake
  • large localized bloom confirmed at the center of the water body in Broome County - reported by CSLAP at 12.55 pm on Sep 17

Beaver Dam Lake
  • small localized bloom confirmed off the west shore near Windsor Terrace in Orange County - reported by the public 10.30 am Sep 16

Canandaigua Lake
  • small localized bloom confirmed off the west shore in the north end of the water body in Ontario County - reported by Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association 9.15 pm on Sep 25
  • small localized bloom confirmed off the east shore Thompson Beach in Ontario County - reported by Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association 3.01 pm on Sep 17
  • small localized bloom confirmed off the east shore south of Crystal Beach in Ontario County - reported by Canandaigua Lake Watershed Association 2 pm on Sep 17

Cayuga Lake
  • small localized bloom confirmed off the east shore north of Union Springs in Cayuga County - reported by the public at 1.26 pm on Sep 27
  • large localized bloom confirmed off the west shore north of Sheldrake Point in Seneca County - reported by Community Science Institute at 11.45 am on Sep 26
  • large localized bloom confirmed off the east shore near King Ferry Station in Cayuga County - reported by Community Science Institute at 11.36 am on Sep 26
  • small localized bloom confirmed off the west shore south of Sheldrake Point in Cayuga County - reported by Community Science Institute at 2.45 pm on Sep 21
  • small localized bloom confirmed off the east shore on the north side of Farleys Point in Cayuga County - reported by Community Science Institute at 1.35 pm on Sep 21
  • small localized bloom confirmed off the east shore north of Union Springs in Cayuga County - reported by Community Science Institute at 12.45 pm on Sep 21
  • small localized bloom confirmed off the Finger Lakes causeway north of Cayuga in Cayuga County - reported by Community Science Institute at 10.30 am on Sep 20
  • small localized bloom confirmed off the east shore near Atwater in Cayuga County - reported by Community Science Institute at 9.55 am on Sep 20
  • small localized bloom confirmed off the west shore near Maplewood Point in Tompkins County - reported by the public at 12.22 pm on Sep 18
  • small localized bloom confirmed off the west shore at Taughannock Point in Tompkins County - reported by NYS Parks at 11.37 pm on Sep 18
  • large localized bloom confirmed off the west shore near Wyres Point Rd and north of Sheldrake Point in Seneca County - reported by Community Science Institute at 10.45 am on Sep 18
  • small localized bloom confirmed off the east shore north of King Ferry Station in Cayuga County - reported by Community Science Institute at 8:30 am on Sep 16
  • small localized bloom confirmed off the east shore Farleys Point in Cayuga County - reported by Community Science Institute at 10 am on Sep 15
  • small localized bloom confirmed off the west shore near Wyres Point Rd and north of Sheldrake Point in Seneca County - reported by Community Science Institute at 9.15 am on Sep 15

Chautauqua Lake
  • open water bloom confirmed midlake in the south end of the water body in Chautauqua County - reported by the CSLAP at 8.30 am on Sep 17

Dryden Lake
  • large localized bloom confirmed midlake in Tompkins County - reported by the public at 8.46 am on Sep 16

Harlem Meer
  • widespread bloom confirmed midlake in Manhattan - reported by NYC Parks at 7.13 am on Sep 25

Honeoye Lake
  • large localized bloom confirmed off the west shore toward the south end of the water body in Ontario County - reported by the Honeoye Lake Watershed Task Force at 10.57 am on Sep 25
  • large localized bloom confirmed off the west shore a mile south of California Point in Ontario - reported by the Honeoye Lake Watershed Task Force at 9.39 am on Sep 25
  • large localized bloom confirmed at midlake in Ontario - reported by the Honeoye Lake Watershed Task Force at 9.39 am on Sep 25

Hyde Lake
  • widespread bloom confirmed in the northwest end of the water body in Jefferson County - reported by the public at 7.02 am on Sep 23
  • widespread bloom confirmed in the northwest end of the water body in Jefferson County - reported by the public at 6.44 am on Sep 22
  • widespread bloom confirmed in the northwest end of the water body in Jefferson County - reported by the public at 2.12 pm on Sep 21
  • widespread bloom confirmed in the northwest end of the water body in Jefferson County - reported by the public at 7.16 am on Sep 18
  • widespread bloom confirmed in the northwest end of the water body in Jefferson County - reported by the public at 8.10 am on Sep 16

Irondequoit Bay
  • large localized bloom confirmed off the west shore a mile south of California Point in Monroe - reported by the public at 9.54 am on Sep 25

Lake in Central Park
  • widespread bloom confirmed on the west side of the water body in Manhattan - reported by the NYC Parks at 12.10 pm Sep 25

Lake Champlain
  • small localized bloom confirmed near Port Henry off Dock Lane in Essex County - reported by the public at 11.40 am Sep 21
  • large localized bloom confirmed in Pointe au Roche State Park north shore in Clinton County - reported by NYS Parks at 12.52 am Sep 18

Lake Clear
  • bloom confirmed off the west shore in Franklin County - reported by the public at 11.40 am Sep 27
  • small localized bloom confirmed off the southwest shore in Franklin County - reported by the public at 8.16 am Sep 27

Lake Salubria
  • large localized bloom confirmed off the east shore in Steuben County - reported by CSLAP at 11.14 am Sep 23

Mill Pond
  • widespread bloom confirmed midlake in Manhattan - reported by Stony Brook University at 10.21 am on Sep 20

Moon Lake
    small localized bloom confirmed off the north shore Boat Launch Lane in Jefferson County - reported by CSLAP at 12.42 pm on Sep 16 large localized bloom confirmed off the southwest shore Wood Duck Dr in Jefferson County - reported by CSLAP at 10.46 am on Sep 16

Otisco Lake
    small localized bloom confirmed south of the causeway off the east shore in Onondaga County - reported by the public at 9.58 am on Sep 23 large localized bloom confirmed off the east shore near Rice Grove in Onondaga County - reported by the public at 1.35 pm on Sep 18

Owasco Lake
  • small localized bloom confirmed off the east shore north of Seward Point in Cayuga County - reported by Owasco Lake Watershed Association at 2.08 pm Sep 25
  • small localized bloom confirmed off the southwest shore south of Ashland in Cayuga County - reported by Owasco Lake Watershed Association at 11.26 am Sep 21
  • large localized bloom confirmed off the southwest shore near Cascade in Cayuga County - reported by the public at 12.50 pm Sep 18
  • large localized bloom confirmed off the west shore between Fire Lanes 24 and 26 in Cayuga County - reported by the Owasco Watershed Lake Association at 12.30 pm Sep 18
  • large localized bloom confirmed off the southwest shore near Cascade in Cayuga County - reported by Owasco Watershed Lake Association at 10.39 am Sep 18
  • large localized bloom confirmed off the southwest shore near Cascade in Cayuga County - reported by Owasco Watershed Lake Association at 9.32 am Sep 18
  • large localized bloom confirmed off the east shore near Fire Lane 33 in Cayuga County - reported by the public at 8.23 am Sep 17
  • large localized bloom confirmed off the southwest shore near Cascade in Cayuga County - reported by Owasco Watershed Lake Association at 9.40 am Sep 16

Prospect Park Lake
  • widespread bloom confirmed off the south shore of the water body in Kings County - reported by the NYC Parks at 12.30 pm on Sep 15

Raquette Lake
  • large localized bloom confirmed off the south shore of Indian Point in Hamilton County - reported by the public at 11.44 am Sep 22

Red House Lake
  • small localized bloom confirmed at the center of the water body in Cattaraugus County - reported by NYS Parks at 11 am Sep 18

Riverwoods Pond
  • small localized bloom confirmed in Suffolk County - reported by Stony Brook University at 9.56 am Sep 19

Roth Pond
  • widespread bloom confirmed in Suffolk County - reported by Stony Brook University at 11.05 am Sep 22

Sagg Pond
  • bloom confirmed in Sagaponack Pond in Suffolk County - reported by Stony Brook University at 10.22 am on Sep 20

Seneca Lake
  • small localized bloom confirmed off the west shore near Arrowhead Beach Rd in Yates County - reported by Seneca Lake Pure Waters at 3.04 pm on Sep 22
  • small localized bloom confirmed off the east shore near Deal Rd in Seneca County - reported by Seneca Lake Pure Waters at 12.12 pm on Sep 18

Sodus Bay
  • large localized confirmed toward the south of the water body off Willigs Point east shore in Wayne County - reported by the DEC staff at 7.48 am Sep 21
  • small localized bloom confirmed off the east shore opposite Grassy Point in Wayne County - reported by the public at 9 am Sep 18

Upper Saranac Lake
  • small localized bloom confirmed off the north shore near Floodwood in Franklin County - reported by the public at 4.02 pm on Sep 22
  • small localized bloom confirmed off the north shore near Edgewater Lane in Franklin County - reported by the public at 11.20 am on Sep 22

Unnamed Water in Genesee County
  • small localized bloom confirmed in a pond off Sliker Rd in Genesee County - reported by CSLAP at 8 am on Sep 23

Wainscott Pond
  • widespread bloom confirmed off the south shore in Suffolk County - reported by Stony Brook University at 10.20 am on Sep 20

Waneta Lake
  • widespread bloom confirmed off the east shore toward the south end of the water body in Schuyler County - reported by the public at 9.06 am on Sep 27
  • large localized bloom confirmed off the east shore toward the south end of the water body in Schuyler County - reported by the public at 5.16 pm on Sep 21
  • widespread bloom confirmed off the east shore toward the south end of the water body in Schuyler County - reported by the public at 9.35 am on Sep 20

Washington Park Pond
  • widespread bloom confirmed at the south end of the water body in Albany County - reported by CAWD at 9.50 am on Sep 20

HABS Harmful Algae Blooms
Get informed and stay safe around the water this summer
WaterToday collects algal bloom monitoring information from state and federal agencies including but not limited to the CDC, EPA, NOAA and state public health authorities.
HABs alerts are posted on our state maps according to the best available information reported by citizen groups, universities, state and/or federal monitoring agencies.
Before you head out to the beach, pond or stream, check with local authorities to confirm the latest HABs conditions.
Consider carrying a rapid test kit for micro-cystin, the most common of the cyanobacteria toxins.

Sources for algal bloom data.
National Centres for Coastal Ocean Science
A department of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NCCOS provides harmful algal bloom forecasting for certain water bodies and regions including.
 West Basin Lake Erie https.//coastalscience.noaa.gov/science-areas/habs/hab-monitoring-system/cyanobacteria-algal-bloom-from-satellite-in-western-lake-erie-basin/
Lake Pontchartrain  https.//coastalscience.noaa.gov/science-areas/habs/hab-monitoring-system/cyanobacteria-algal-bloom-from-satellite-in-lake-pontchartrain-la/

The forecasting is based on true color imagery provided by OLCI sensors on Copernicus Sentinel-3a satellite of the EUMETSAT group

Environmental Protection Agency Cyanobacteria Assessment Network (CyAN)
The mission of the CyAN project is to support the environmental management and public use of U.S. lakes and estuaries by providing a useful and accessible approach to detecting and quantifying algal blooms and related water quality using satellite data records. 
What is CyAN.  Mobile and web-based application for cyanobacteria monitoring
How does it work?  Users can enter the coordinates or name of local water bodies for monitoring information. 
The CyAN project officially started October 1, 2015. It provided continental U.S. coverage using the
Envisat MERIS archive from 2002-2012
Sign up here. https.//www.epa.gov/water-research/cyanobacteria-assessment-network-application-cyan-app

Centers for Disease Control

Environmental Public Health Tracking provides data and information on health outcomes, the environment, population, and exposures, including hazardous algal blooms occurring in water bodies of the USA, both freshwater and marine.

CDC Public Notice on Hazardous Algae Blooms
It is not possible to know if a large growth, or bloom, of algae or cyanobacteria (also called blue-green algae) is harmful just by looking at it. Some blooms make toxins (poisons), which can still be in the water even when you can’t see a bloom. Learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones from harmful algae and cyanobacteria, what to do if you or a pet is exposed to them, and how to help prevent these blooms.

Swimming and Wading.  Stay out of water with a bloom, rinse off if you or your pets are in contact with water
If you see signs of a bloom, stay out of the water and keep your pets out of the water. Do not fish, swim, boat, or play water sports in areas where this is possible harmful algae or cyanobacteria.
Do not go into or play in water that.

  • Smells bad
  • Looks discolored
  • Has foam, scum, algal mats, or paint-like streaks on the surface
  • Has dead fish or other animals washed up on its shore or beach
Protect your pets and livestock from getting sick by keeping them away from water with possible harmful algae or cyanobacteria. Do not let animals.
  • Get in the water
  • Drink the water
  • Lick or eat mats of cyanobacteria or algae
  • Eat or graze near the water
  • Eat dead fish or other animals on the shore
  • Go on the beach or shoreline
If you or your pets do go in water that may have a bloom, rinse yourself and your pets immediately afterward with tap water from a sink, shower, hose, or outdoor spigot. Do not let pets lick their fur until they have been rinsed. Pets may have harmful algae, cyanobacteria, or related toxins on their fur if they swim or play in water with a bloom.
Do not fill pools with water directly from lakes, rivers, or ponds. The water could contain algal or cyanobacterial toxins or unsafe levels of germs.

Drinking Water.
Follow local guidance about toxins in tap water If you are notified of cyanobacteria or their toxins in your public drinking water supply, follow guidance from your local or state government or water utility to reduce the chances of you or your animals getting sick.
Harmful cyanobacteria may grow in water bodies that supply tap water. Although many water treatment plants can remove these toxins, tap water can be contaminated in certain situations. Cyanobacteria can also produce substances that are not harmful, but can change the taste or smell of tap water.
If you have concerns about the appearance, smell, or taste of tap water that you are using, contact your water utility or health department. Consider using bottled water for drinking and cooking until the problem is resolved.
Don’t boil water contaminated with toxins. Boiling water does not remove toxins and can concentrate the toxin.

 
Fish and shellfish.
Be aware of advisories and health risks related to eating contaminated fish and shellfish
Avoid eating very large reef fish (such as grouper or amberjack), especially the head, gut, liver, or roe (eggs). Large reef fish may be contaminated with ciguatoxin, the algal toxin that causes ciguatera fish poisoning. See the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Fish and Fishery Products Hazards and Controls Guidance for more information on reef fish associated with unsafe levels of toxins.
Check for and follow local shellfish and fish advisories before eating any fish or shellfish you collect yourself. Algal and cyanobacterial toxins in fish or shellfish have no taste or odor. Cooking or preserving food does not remove toxins. Thus, you cannot tell if the seafood is safe by just looking at, smelling, or tasting it.

  • Check to see if shellfish beds are closed. State shellfish control authorities (usually state health departments or other state agencies) are required to control for toxins where harmful algal blooms are likely to occur and toxins could build up in shellfish. Common ways state authorities control for algal toxins include routine monitoring for toxic algae or shellfish and testing shellfish for toxins before or after harvesting. If levels of toxins are unsafe, state authorities will close the area for shellfish harvesting until shellfish are safe to eat.
  • Check safety advisories from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Fish and Shellfish Advisories and Safe Eating Guidelines website.

Report any concerns to your local public health authorities.

EPA notice to the public on harmful algae
Harmful algal blooms can be green, blue, red or brown. They can be scummy or look like paint on the surface of the water.
What are harmful algal blooms?
Harmful algal blooms are overgrowths of algae in water. Some produce dangerous toxins in fresh or marine water but even nontoxic blooms hurt the environment and local economies.
What are the effects of harmful algal blooms?
Harmful algal blooms can.

  • Produce extremely dangerous toxins that can sicken or kill people and animals
  • Create dead zones in the water
  • Raise treatment costs for drinking water
  • Hurt industries that depend on clean water

The EPA has a role in enforcing environmental protection regulations to limit discharges into water bodies that contribute to the growth of harmful algal blooms.
The EPA also maintains list of Impaired Water Bodies by state, those water bodies that are not supporting their ideal uses for recreation, including swimming, fishing and wading.  The EPA works with state authorities to identify water bodies that are not supporting their intended recreational uses, to set daily maximum limits for contaminants and nutrient load for impaired water bodies.  The EPA works with state and other federal agencies to investigate and prosecute violations of the Clean Water Act, with a role in ordering watershed plans that limit discharges to these water bodies to allow for recovery.
Follow WT Clean Water Act Crime Box to learn about the work of the EPA in historic criminal prosecutions involving illegal discharges to water bodies, or making false reports about discharges.
Check out our With the Flow report weekly to see spills, streamflows, algae blooms and drinking water advisories occurring in the same drainage area in the same time frame.
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