HAB Tracker
from NY DEC and NCCOS satellite program
Ellicott Creek new HAB reports
July 22, 2024 214 pm EDT
NY Department of Environmental Conservation HABS Notifications
Sixty-two HABs are confirmed active on the notifications board Monday afternoon, down from eighty-five on the weekend. No additional water bodies have been added to the impacted list, two additional reports have been confirmed for HAB frequent flyer Ellicott Creek, already notorious in 2024. HABs confirmed up to an including the morning of July 8 have been archived, clearing Barger Pond, Canadaigua Lake, Clove Lake, Harlem Meer, The Lake in Central Park, Oquaga Lake, Plymouth Reservoir, Saratoga Lake, Turtle Pond and Wilcox Park Pond South from the active impacted water body list.
See the bluegreen tags on the map to the right indicating the water bodies with at least one active HAB. Multiple reports on any given water body are described in detail in the alphabetized list below. Make the most of the summmer, plan for clear access to your favourite recreational water bodies to avoid contact with HABs.
Agawam Lake
- July 16 2024 12 pm EDT widespread HAB confirmed midlake in Suffolk County
- July 8 2024 351 pm EDT widespread HAB confirmed midlake in Suffolk County
Beaver Dam Lake, aka Beaverdam Lake 8 HAB reports are active, some may be duplicate reports
- July 12 202 pm large localized HAB confirmed off the northeast shore in the north arm in Orange County, reported by the public
- July 10 919 am large localized HAB confirmed off the west shore of the north arm in Orange County, reported by the public
- July 8 855 am small localized HAB confirmed off the east shore of the north arm, around the bend from the Homeowners Association in Orange County, reported by the public
Brooks Lake
- July 15 2024 1252 pm small localized HAB confirmed midwater in Clove Lakes Park, Staten Island, reported by NYC Parks
Bowne Pond
- July 11 2024 343 pm EDT large localized HAB confirmed midlake in Queens County, reported by NYC Parks
Cannonsville Reservoir
- July 9 2024 12 pm EDT large localized HAB confirmed south of Tower Mountain west of Apex Boat Launch and Route 268 bridge in Delaware County
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Chautauqua Lake
- July 12 2024 258 pm EDT large localized HAB confirmed off the east shore near Chautauqua Point Golf Course, reported by the public
- July 12 2024 214 pm EDT large localized HAB confirmed off the west shore point near 3 Taps in Chautauqua, reported by the public
- July 11 2024 12 pm EDT HAB confirmed off the east shore of LCLC Sailing School Boat House, reported by NYS Dept of Health
- July 8 2024 512 pm EDT large localized HAB confirmed south of Long Point in Chautauqua County, reported by Chautauqua Lake Association
- July 8 2024 501 pm EDT large localized HAB confirmed off the east shore Bemus Point Golf Course in Chautauqua County, reported by Chautauqua Lake Association
- July 8 2024 440 pm EDT large localized HAB confirmed off the east shore south of Bemus Point and I-86 in Chautauqua County, reported by Chautauqua Lake Association
Cross Lake
- July 15 2024 230 pm EDT HAB of unknown extent confirmed off the east shore in line with Sprague Rd in Onondaga County, same location as HAB reported July 4
Ellicott Creek
- July 18 2024 139 pm large localized HAB confirmed southeast of Ellicott Creek Park in Erie County
- July 18 2024 1245 pm widespread HAB confirmed southwest of Ellicott Creek Park in Erie County
- July 11 2024 1130 am widespread HAB confirmed off the shore of Ellicott Creek Park in Erie County
- July 9 2024 2 pm widespread HAB confirmed off the shore of Ellicott Creek Park east of the previous bloom location in Erie County
Fort Pond
- July 8 1015 am EDT HAB of unreported extent confirmed off the north shore near Industrial Rd in Suffolk County, reported by Stony Brook University
Francis J Marks Memorial Park Swimming Pond
- July 17 2024 10 am EDT HAB of unknown extent confirmed off the north shore in Dutchess County, reported by NYS Dept of Health
Georgica Pond
- July 15 2024 330 pm HAB of unknown extent confirmed off the west shore near Eel Point Rd in Suffolk County, reported by Stony Brook University
Golden Pond
- July 10 2024 649 am small localized HAB confirmed in the northeast corner of the pond in Queens County
Honeoye Lake
- July 12 2024 330 pm EDT small localized HAB confirmed off the north shore at Sandy Bottom Park in Ontario County, reported by NYS Department of Health
- July 8 2024 514 pm EDT open water HAB confirmed off the southeast shore near the boat launch in Ontario County
Lake Champlain
- July 15 widespread HAB in the northeast Baie Missisquoi extending to Alburg-Swanton Bridge- from satellite imagery of the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science HABs monitoring program
Lake Peekskill
- July 15 2024 11 am EDT HAB of unknown extent confirmed off the north shore in Putnam County, reported by NYS Department of Health
- July 15 2024 11 am EDT HAB of unknown extent confirmed off the east shore in Putnam County, reported by NYS Department of Health
Lake Welch
- July 9 2024 850 am small localized HAB confirmed along the north shore in Rockland County
Lake Welch Lagoon
- July 12 2024 12 pm widespread HAB confirmed midwater in Rockland County, reported by NYS Parks
Maratooka Lake
- July 15 2024 330 pm EDT HAB of unreported extent confirmed off the south shore in Suffolk County, reported by Stony Brook University
July 9 2024 1 pm EDT HAB of unreported extent confirmed off the south shore in Suffolk County
Oakland Lake
- July 10 2024 702 am EDT large localzed HAB confirmed off the east shore in Queens
Park Station Pond
- July 12 2024 1012 am small localized HAB confirmed off the south shore of Beaver Pond Rd Point in Chemung County, reported by the public
Port Bay
- July 12 2024 1016 am HAB confirmed off the east shore deep in Port Bay near Eagle Rd in Monroe County, reported by the public
Prospect Park Lake
- July 12 2024 1117 am EDT widespread HAB confirmed in Brooklyn, reported by NYC Parks
Putnam Lake
- July 17 10 am EDT HAB of unknown extent confirmed off the west shore near Waterford Rd in Putnam County, reported by NYS Department of Health
Quaker Lake
July 9 2024 11 am small localized HAB confirmed off the northwest shore near East Bank Perimeter Rd and NY-280
Roth Pond
- July 17 2024 10 am EDT widespread HAB confirmed midlake in Suffolk County, reported by Stony Brook University
- July 10 2024 1 pm widespread HAB confirmed midlake in Suffolk County, reported by Stony Brook University
Seneca River
- July 10 2024 443 pm EDT HAB of unknown extent confirmed west of NY-370 bridge near Seneca Knolls in Onondaga County
Swinging Bridge Reservoir
- July 13 2024 1205 pm EDT large localized HAB confirmed in the north arm, off the east shore near Plank Rd in Sullivan County, reported by the public
Tonawanda Creek
- July 17 2024 520 pm EDT widespread HAB confirmed between Sweeney Street and Creekside Drive in Erie County, reported by the public
- July 17 2024 505 pm EDT large localized HAB confirmed east of East Niagara Park between Sweeney Street and E Niagara St in Erie County, reported by the public
- July 17 2024 438 pm EDT widespread HAB confirmed between Sweeney Street and Creekside Drive in Erie County, reported by the public, may be a duplicate report
Unnamed Water Body Enfield
July 12 2024 307 pm widespread HAB confirmed in Tompkins County, reported by the public.
Unnamed Water Body Erie
July 17 2024 537 pm small localized HAB confirmed off Lower East Hill Rd north of Omphallus Rd in Erie County, reported by the public.
Unnamed Water Body Orange County
July 16 2024 1113 am widespread HAB confirmed off the east shore toward the north end of the water body in Orange County, reported by DEC Staff
Unnamed Water Body Queens
July 9 2024 150 pm widespread HAB confirmed midwater in Bowne Park, Queens County, reported by the NYC Parks.
Unnamed Water Body Suffolk
July 17 2024 535 pm EDT HAB confirmed in unnamed pond north of Maidstone Park Beach and Runnymeade Drive in Springs, Suffolk County, reported by Stony Brook University
Wainscott Pond
- July 16 2024 1130 am EDT widespread HAB confirmed off the southeast shore in Suffolk County
Wilcox Park Pond South
- July 5 2024 11 am EDT HAB of unknown extent confirmed off the west shore toward the north end of the water body in Dutchess County
Willowbrook Pond
- July 8 2024 141 pm EDT large localized HAB confirmed midlake in Richmond County, reported by NYC Parks
HABs are automatically archived after two weeks. If HAB mat is still present, a new report is filed. WTNY tags active HABs on the map to the right.
National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) HABs satellite monitoring program - Lake Champlain
The latest image of Lake Champlain from NCCOS was captured July 21 at an undetermined surface wind speed. This image is clear, showing the Baie Missisquoi HAB hot spots have widened in total area, encompassing the center of the Bay at 3 to 4 million cells per 100 ml. The widespread HABs have merged in the bay, from shore in Canada to the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge shore in USA. The HABs expansion southward down Lake Champlain now extends to the north end of North Hero Island, last seen clearly in the image of July 19 matching concentration scale for 800 thousand cells per 100 ml. Baie Missisquoi HAB was first spotted off Domaine Omer-Alix on June 25 around 400 thousand cells per 100 ml.
Note that low to moderate concentration blooms can be present and undetectable in the satellite image. If the wind conditions are higher than 4 mph, algal mats can become submerged and escape detection by surface imaging and ground based observation. Extensive HAB activity was observed throughout Lake Champlain in the latter part of April, these observations are included here for reference. More recent HAB sightings are included below where available, and noted as such.
- Baie Missisquoi- Canada July 21 lakewide HAB 3 to 4 million cells per 100 ml
- Baie Missisquoi- USA July 21 lakewide HAB up to 3 to 4 million cells per 100 ml
- Rouses Point large and small open water HABs along west shore and open water 100 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Kings Bay Wildlife Management Area localized HABs along shorelines lake-side east and along the east shore of Kings Baywest side of the point 100 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Isle la Motte - Chazy Landing localized HABs along Isle la Motte west shore and Chazy Landing shore 100 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Monty Bay localized HAB on shore 100 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Point au Roche June 26 large localized HABs between Short Point and Long Point no concentration scale match available
- North Hero Island July 19 widespread HAB off the north shore 800 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Treadwell Bay - no HABs seen
- Cumberland Head - Cumberland Bay multiple small open water HABs 100 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Grand Isle large localized HAB at northwest shore, small localized HABs running along the west shoreline 100 thousand cells per 100 ml
- South Hero localized HABs on west shore, 100 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Valcour Island large localized HABs the extent of west shoreline 100 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Ausable Marsh Wildlife Management Area no HABs evident
- Port Kent no HAB activity
- Port Douglass - Schuyler Island small localized HABs in the channel between west shore and Schuyler Island
- Willsboro Point no HABs
- Willsboro Bay multiple localized open water HABs 100 thousand cells per 100 ml
- Essex-Crater Club-Whallen Bay no HABs evident
- Split Rock Mountain no HABs evident
- Westport- North West Bay no HABs
- Port Henry no HABs
- Bullwagga Bay no HABs
Composited Cyanobacteria Index as reported by National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, a visual scale based on true color imagery. Note: Winds above 4.0 mph may begin mixing the bloom and clouds may obscure it, leading to an underestimate of the area. Moderate and low concentrations may not be obvious to the eye.
The images are derived from Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite data from the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) and were processed by NOAA, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science.
The ongoing challenge to adapt and mitigate the presence of HABS
The work of preventing dissolved reactive phosphates and nitrates from leaving the landscape and moving through the waterways into the lakes is a challenging task faced by state environmental authorities. Unchecked nutrient loading stimulates uncontrolled cyanobacteria growth, impairing the lake.
Some species of cyanobacteria can produce toxic compounds affecting the liver, hepatotoxins, which are particularly dangerous for dogs. The impact on humans is digestive upset, skin rashes and headaches, the impact on dogs is often fatal, there is no antidote to the effect of the toxin once ingested or absorbed by a dog.
The public is encouraged to report observations of HABs which are then checked and confirmed by state authorities and communicated to the public via HABs notifications page and alerts. WTNY.us rebroadcasts the HAB alerts through the monitoring season.
The confirmed presence of a HAB does not always mean there are toxins in the water. Water must be tested for the presence of specific cyanotoxins. Microcystins in the most common toxin tested by labs. A rapid test kit is also available, offering reliable results to 1 part per billion sensitivity. With toxin testing, the public can be directed to clean beaches and access points to the lake to avoid coming in contact with HABs.
Accidental spills of phosphate and nitrate-containing substances can contribute to HABs in excess of the managed TDML. The WTNY.us licensed map shows where hazardous spills can migrate with water. Select the pink radio button above the map to see only the spills, turn on the watershed layer and directional arrows. Get an idea of the number of spills reported in a given week and potential impact on the waterways.
Return here as we look into the specifics of the TMDL plans for Cayuga, Canandaigua and Owasco Lakes, and what is planned for stakeholder collaboration ahead of the 2024 HABs season, in efforts to minimize the HABs in the lakes this summer. More to follow. Check out www.wtoh.us to see how TMDL plans are used to manage the HAB load in Lake Erie, a drinking water source for 11 million people.
Drinking Water - Consumption
Advice from the NY DEC, "Never drink, prepare food, cook, or make ice with untreated surface water, whether or not any bloom is present. People not on public water supplies should avoid drinking surface water during an algal bloom, even if it is treated, because in-home treatments such as boiling, disinfecting water with chlorine or ultraviolet (UV), and water filtration units do not protect people from HABs toxins."
8 HABs remained on the current list at the close of the NY DEC official monitoring season, November 17, 2023.
Going into the freeze up and winter season, we will be looking at the HAB summaries by water body over the last five years. HAB Action Plans prepared for particular lakes will be highlighted here. HAB awareness and action plan implementation is very much driven from the local level. Find helpful information here on how to get involved in the protection of your favorite NY lakes ahead of the next bloom season.
As NY DEC is no longer monitoring and reporting new HABs, send your observations with a photo and location to alerts@wtny.us. These will be pinned on our map and reported as unconfirmed public observations.
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.
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