Syracuse, N.Y. -- With the peak of the algae bloom season yet to come, 60 blooms have been reported in the past two weeks in New York state.
The blooms were discovered across the state, from Long Island to Western New York, and in water bodies ranging from small park ponds to a bay off Lake Ontario. Some of the blooms were confined to small areas, while others were spread across large bodies of water.
Four Finger Lakes are on the list -- Canandaigua, Honeyoye, Keuka and Otisco. No blooms have been found in Skaneateles Lake, the unfiltered source of drinking water for the city of Syracuse. Last year, all 11 Finger Lakes had a bloom at some point.
The blooms are actually a form of bacteria called cyanobacteria. They secrete toxins that, in large quantities, can sicken humans and kill dogs.
The blooms tend to peak in late August and September, especially when the weather is hot, sunny and calm. Last year, more than 100 water bodies had toxic blooms for some part of the summer or fall.
The chart below lists the blooms reported in the past two weeks to the state Department of Environmental Conservation. The DEC cautions that some of these blooms may have dissipated, and that some blooms may have popped up that haven’t been reported.
NY toxic algae blooms, Aug. 20
County | Water body | Type | Size |
---|---|---|---|
Albany | Beaver pond | Suspicious | Small Localized |
Broome | Whitney Point Reservoir | Suspicious | Small Localized |
Broome | Whitney Point Reservoir | Suspicious | Large Localized |
Chautauqua | Chautauqua Lake | Confirmed | Not Reported |
Chautauqua | Chautauqua Lake | Suspicious | Widespread or Lakewide |
Chenango | Thunder Lake | Confirmed | Small Localized |
Cortland | Casterline Pond | Suspicious | Widespread or Lakewide |
Cortland | Song Lake | Confirmed with High Toxins | Not Reported |
Delaware | Cannonsville Reservoir | Suspicious | Large Localized |
Dutchess | Westage lake | Suspicious | Small Localized |
Genesee | Swinging Bridge Reservoir | Suspicious | Large Localized |
Kings | Prospect Park Lake | Confirmed with High Toxins | Widespread or Lakewide |
Madison | Oneida Lake | Suspicious | Large Localized |
Monroe | Irondequoit Bay | Suspicious | Small Localized |
New York | Turtle Pond | Suspicious | Large Localized |
Oneida | Oneida Lake | Suspicious | Small Localized |
Onondaga | Jamesville reservoir | Suspicious | Small Localized |
Onondaga | Otisco Lake | Confirmed | Small Localized |
Onondaga | Otisco Lake | Confirmed | Large Localized |
Ontario | Canandaigua Lake | Confirmed | Large Localized |
Ontario | Canandaigua Lake | Suspicious | Large Localized |
Ontario | Honeoye Lake | Suspicious | Large Localized |
Ontario | Retention pond | Suspicious | Small Localized |
Orange | Guymard Lake | Suspicious | Widespread or Lakewide |
Orange | Orange Lake | Confirmed | Small Localized |
Orange | Orange Lake | Confirmed | Not Reported |
Orange | Murray Pond | Suspicious | Small Localized |
Oswego | Lake Neatahwanta | Confirmed | Widespread or Lakewide |
Oswego | North Sandy Pond | Suspicious | Small Localized |
Putnam | Barger Pond | Confirmed | Open Water |
Putnam | Lake Carmel | Suspicious | Small Localized |
Putnam | Lake Peekskill | Suspicious | Small Localized |
Putnam | Long Pond | Suspicious | Small Localized |
Rensselaer | Vosburg Pond | Suspicious | Small Localized |
Saint Lawrence | Black lake | Suspicious | Large Localized |
Saratoga | Moreau Lake | Suspicious | Open Water |
Schuyler | Cayuta Lake | Suspicious | Large Localized |
Suffolk | Agawam Lake | Confirmed | Widespread or Lakewide |
Suffolk | Fort Pond | Confirmed | Widespread or Lakewide |
Suffolk | Fresh Pond | Confirmed | Small Localized |
Suffolk | Laurel Lake | Confirmed | Large Localized |
Suffolk | Maratooka Lake | Confirmed | Large Localized |
Suffolk | Roth Pond | Confirmed with High Toxins | Widespread or Lakewide |
Suffolk | Roth Pond | Confirmed with High Toxins | Widespread or Lakewide |
Suffolk | The Lake in Central Park | Confirmed with High Toxins | Widespread or Lakewide |
Suffolk | Wainscott Pond | Confirmed | Widespread or Lakewide |
Sullivan | Montgomery Lake | Confirmed | Widespread or Lakewide |
Sullivan | Pleasure Lake | Confirmed | Small Localized |
Ulster | Seewackamano Lake | Suspicious | Small Localized |
Warren | Friends Lake | Confirmed | Small Localized |
Warren | Friends Lake | Suspicious | Large Localized |
Washington | Champlain Canal | Suspicious | Small Localized |
Westchester | Croton River | Suspicious | Small Localized |
Westchester | Lake Lincolndale | Confirmed | Not Reported |
Westchester | Lake Lincolndale | Suspicious | Small Localized |
Westchester | Sheldrake Lake | Confirmed with High Toxins | Widespread or Lakewide |
Westchester | Sheldrake Lake | Suspicious | Widespread or Lakewide |
Wyoming | Java Lake | Confirmed | Open Water |
Yates | Keuka Lake | Suspicious | Small Localized |
Harlem Meer | Confirmed with High Toxins | Large Localized | |
New York | Turtle Pond | Confirmed | Large Localized |
Source: NYS Department of Environmental Conservation