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11/19/2024

WT Staff

Did HABs keep you away from the lakes in 2024? Let us know how HABs impacted your recreational plans this year.

Give us a call at 877-52-WATER (877-529-2837), or email info@wtny.us



November 19, 2024 446 pm EST

NY HAB Tracker
from NYS DEC and NOAA-NCCOS satellite monitoring program
NYS DEC HABs monitoring program closed for the season

NY Department of Environmental Conservation HABS Notifications

Twenty-seven HABs remained on the notifications board Tuesday, the last day of the monitoring season. The NY DEC HABS monitoring has ended, however, blooms can still be reported by email to habsinfo@dec.ny.gov.

The last reports confirmed for the 2024 season came in on Nov 15, these apply to two lakes that have had bluegreen previously this year, Lower St Regis Lake and Upper Saranac Lake in the northeast drainage basin.

Reports made prior to November 5 have been transferred to the archives, the total records archived over the season came to 2139.

Agawam Lake Suffolk County
First confirmed HAB of the season June 20, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 16

Agwaterra Pond
First confirmed HAB of the season Oct 4, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Alcove Reservoir Albany County
First confirmed HAB of the season Aug 16, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 5

Arctic Lake
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 29, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 2

Ashokan Reservoir Ulster County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 18, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Avon Marsh Dam Pond Livingston County
First confirmed HAB of the season May 29, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 5

Ballston Lake Saratoga County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 28, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 2

Barger Pond Putnam County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 6, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 3

Barnum Pond Franklin County
First confirmed HAB of the season Aug 16, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 4

Basic Creek Reservoir Albany County
First confirmed HAB of the season Aug 23, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 4

Beaver Dam Lake, aka Beaverdam Lake Orange County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 21, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 86

Black Lake St Lawrence County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 21, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 2

Bog Brook Reservoir Putnam County
First confirmed HAB of the season Oct 16, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 2

Braddock Bay Monroe County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 19, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Bradley Brook Reservoir Madison County
First confirmed HAB of the season Aug 23, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 7

Brooks Lake Richmond County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 15, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Brown's Pond Queens
First confirmed HAB of the season Aug 20, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Canadice Lake
First confirmed HAB of the season:, June 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Canadarago Lake Otsego County
First confirmed HAB of the season Aug 27, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Canandaigua Lake Ontario County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 20, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 284

Cannonsville Reservoir
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 9, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 3

Casey Park Pond Ontario County
First confirmed HAB of the season Oct 4, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Cayuga Lake: Tompkins, Cayuga, Seneca Counties
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 3, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 136

Cayuta Lake Schuyler County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 30, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 6

Chautauqua Lake Chautauqua County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 15, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 70

Clear Lake Erie County
First confirmed HAB of the season Oct 20, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Conesus Lake
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 21, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 4

Clove Lake Richmond County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 8, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Cortlandt Lake Putnam County
First confirmed HAB of the season Aug 1, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Cross Lake
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 12, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 6

Delta Lake
First confirmed HAB of the season Aug 23, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

East Branch Reservoir Putnam County
First confirmed HAB of the season Oct 23, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Ellicott Creek
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 26, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 21

Esopus Creek Ulster County
First confirmed HAB of the season Aug 18, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Findley Lake Chautauqua County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 16, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 17

Fish Creek Ponds Franklin County
First confirmed HAB of the season Oct 5, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Fort Pond Suffolk County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 8, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 7

Francis J Marks Memorial Park Swimming Pond Dutchess County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 17, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Furnace Pond Dutchess County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 16, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Georgica Pond Suffolk County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 15, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Gillie Lake Onondaga County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 29, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Golden Pond Queens County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 10, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Gorton Lake Madison County
First confirmed HAB of the season Aug 3, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 4

Great Sacandaga Lake Fulton County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 29, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 3

Green Lake Erie County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 22, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 5

Harlem Meer Manhattan
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 5, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 7

Hemlock Lake Livingston County
First confirmed HAB of the season Aug 15, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 2

Highland Lake Orange County
First confirmed HAB of the season Nov 3, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Hope Lake Cortland County
First confirmed HAB of the season Sep 28, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Honeoye Lake Ontario County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 4, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 51

Hyde Lake Jefferson County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 28, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 59

Indian Falls Lake Genesee County
First confirmed HAB of the season Aug 23, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Jamesville Reservoir Onondaga County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 28, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 2

Java LakeWyoming County
First confirmed HAB of the season Aug 14, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 6

Kellis Pond Suffolk County
First confirmed HAB of the season Sep 24, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Kensico Reservoir Westchester County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 13, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Keuka Lake Yates County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 20, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 15

Lake Bonita Saratoga County
First confirmed HAB of the season Nov 4, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Lake Champlain Clinton County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 26, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 15

Lake Casse Putnam County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 1, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 2

Lake Carmel Putnam County
First confirmed HAB of the season Aug 19, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 4

Lake Clear Franklin County
First confirmed HAB of the season Aug 14, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 7

Lake in Central Park Manhattan
First confirmed HAB of the season May 14, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 14

Lake Moraine Madison County
First confirmed HAB of the season Sep 30, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Lake Mohansic Westchester County
First confirmed HAB of the season Oct 20, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Lake Mohegan Westchester County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 8, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 5

Lake Ontario
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 4, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 23

Lake Peekskill Putnam County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 5, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 13

Lake Superior Sullivan County
First confirmed HAB of the season Aug 6, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Lake Tonetta
First confirmed HAB of the season Aug 15, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 2

Lake Welch Rockland County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 9, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Lake Welch Lagoon
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 10, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 2

Lamoka Lake
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 12, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 11

Little Tupper Lake
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 16, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Long Pond Suffolk County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 20, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Loon Lake Steuben County
First confirmed HAB of the season Oct 19, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Lower Saint Regis Lake Franklin County
First confirmed HAB of the season Sep 3, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 5

Lower Saranac Lake Franklin County
First confirmed HAB of the season Sep 14, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 4

Maratooka Lake Suffolk County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 1, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 7

Marsh Creek Ontario County
First confirmed HAB of the season Sep 12, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 2

Mecox Bay Suffolk County
First confirmed HAB of the season Sep 18, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Meacham Lake Franklin County
First confirmed HAB of the season Sep 28, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Meadow Lake Queens County
First confirmed HAB of the season Aug 16, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Mill Pond - Watermill Suffolk County
First confirmed HAB of the season Sep 3, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 2

Millers Pond Chemung County
First confirmed HAB of the season Aug 6, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Mongaup Pond Sullivan County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 27, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Morningside Pond Manhattan
First confirmed HAB of the season May 21, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 6

Mountain Lake Sullivan County
First confirmed HAB of the season Sep 30, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Myostosis Lake Albany County
First confirmed HAB of the season Sep 4, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Nathaniel Cole Park Pond Broome County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 23, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

New Rochelle Reservoir No. 1 Westchester County
First confirmed HAB of the season Oct 19, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Niger Pond Suffolk County
First confirmed HAB of the season Aug 14, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 3

North (Sandy) Pond Oswego County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 25, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 15

Oakdale Lake Columbia County
First confirmed HAB of the season Aug 12, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 3

Old Town Pond Suffolk County
First confirmed HAB of the season Sep 24, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Onondaga Lake Onondaga County
First confirmed HAB of the season Aug 20, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Oneida Lake Oneida County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 12, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 8

Oquaga Lake Broome County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 8, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 2

Orange Lake Orange County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 22, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 6

Oswego River Oswego County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 31, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 13

Otisco Lake Onondaga County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 21, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 14

Otsego Lake Otsego County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 10, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 6

Owasco Lake Cayuga County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 22, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 86

Park Station Pond Chemung County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 12, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Peach Lake Westchester County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 20, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 2

Pepacton Reservoir Delaware County
First confirmed HAB of the season Oct 22, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Piseco Lake Hamilton County
First confirmed HAB of the season Aug 26, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Pleasure Lake Sullivan County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 30, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Plymouth Reservoir Chenango County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 4, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 5

Port Bay Monroe-Wayne Counties
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 12, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 2

Poxabogue Pond Suffolk County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 20, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Prospect Park Lake Brooklyn - Kings County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 10, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 8

Putnam Lake Putnam County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 2, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 7

Quaker Lake Cattaraugus County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 9, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 2

Raquette Lake Hamilton County
First confirmed HAB of the season Aug 25, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 2

Red House Lake Cattaraugus County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 30, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 29

Roaring Brook Lake Putnam County
First confirmed HAB of the season Aug 24, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 5

Roth Pond Suffolk County
First confirmed HAB of the season May 7, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 24

Round Pond Dutchess County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 26, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Round Lake Saratoga County
First confirmed HAB of the season Aug 2, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 5

Sagaponack Lake
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 31, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 4

Saratoga Lake Saratoga County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 5, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Seneca River Onondaga County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 10, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Seneca - Cayuga Canal Seneca County
First confirmed HAB of the season Sep 30, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Seneca Lake Seneca, Cayuga, Tompkins Counties
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 29, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 374

Seven Hills Lake Putnam County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 3, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Sixtown Pond Jefferson County
First confirmed HAB of the season Oct 5, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Skaneateles Lake Onondaga County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 29, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 146

Silver Mine Lake Orange County
First confirmed HAB of the season Oct 1, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 4

Sodus Bay Wayne County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 12, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 2

Song Lake Cortland County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 12, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 4

Swinging Bridge Reservoir
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 13, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 6

Summit Lake Washington County
First confirmed HAB of the season Sep 11, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 2

Swan Lake Westchester County
First confirmed HAB of the season Nov 10, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Tonawanda Creek Erie County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 1, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 7

Trestle Park Pond Genesee County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 23, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Tully Lake Onondaga County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 21, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 14

Turtle Pond Manhattan
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 8, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 7

Tuscarora Lake Madison County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 21, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Twin Lake (South)Columbia County
First confirmed HAB of the season Oct 19, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Upper Chateaugay Lake Clinton County
First confirmed HAB of the season Sep 18, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 2

Upper Saranac Lake Franklin County
First confirmed HAB of the season Sep 16, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 4

Van Cleef Lake Seneca County
First confirmed HAB of the season Aug 16, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 2

Wainscott Pond Suffolk County
First confirmed HAB of the season May 29, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 20

Walkill River Ulster County
First confirmed HAB of the season Sep 19, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Washington Park Pond Albany County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 16, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 14

Waneta Lake Chemung County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 11, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 10

Whitney Point Lake
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 2, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Wilcox Park Pond South Dutchess County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 5, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

Willowbrook Pond Richmond County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jul 8, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 3

Wolf Pit Lake Suffolk County
First confirmed HAB of the season Jun 18, 2024
Total HAB reports confirmed in 2024: 1

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 was captured Nov 18 at an undetermined surface wind speed. This image is completely cloud obscured. A prior clear image dated Nov 13 shows Lake Champlain water with no HAB activity visible.

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. The monitoring program for Lake Champlain does not as yet include a measure of wind speed, so we cannot be certain that we are seeing the full extent of any HAB activity. HAB activity was most prolific in April 2024, those observations are recorded below, many of the southern points in Lake Champlain have not had HAB activity since the end of April. More recent HAB sightings are included below where available, date of observation noted.
  • Baie Missisquoi- Canada Sep 29 open water HABs 100 thousand cells per ml
  • Baie Missisquoi- USA Sep 29 open water HABs 100 thousand cells per ml
  • St Albans Bay Vermontcloud obscured Sep 22, Sep 20 image shows large localized HAB 300 thousand cells per ml
  • Rouses Point April 26 - large and small open water HABs along west shore and open water 100 thousand cells per ml
  • Kings Bay Wildlife Management Area April 26 localized HABs along shorelines lake-side east and along the east shore of Kings Baywest side of the point 100 thousand cells per ml
  • Isle la Motte Sep 14 - widespread HAB in the channel between Isle la Motte and Alburg Dunes State Park 600 to 700 thousand cells per ml
  • Monty Bay April 26 localized HAB on shore 100 thousand cells per 100 ml
  • Point au Roche Sep 29 open water HABs 100 thousand cells per ml - previous HAB noted April 26 large localized HABs between Short Point and Long Point no concentration scale match available
  • North Hero Island Sep 20 open water HABs on the east side 300 thousand cells per ml
  • Treadwell Bay - no HABs
  • Cumberland Head - Cumberland Bay April 26 multiple small open water HABs 100 thousand cells per ml
  • Grand Isle Sep 20 2024 open water HABs on the east side 300 thousand cells per ml
  • South Hero Sep 14 small open water HABs 200 thousand cells per ml
  • Valcour Island Apr 26 large localized HABs the extent of west shoreline 100 thousand cells per 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 Apr 26 multiple localized open water HABs 100 thousand cells per 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.

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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