Algae bloom on Chautauqua Lake, captured in this aerial photo by John McCredie.

ALBANY – Chautauqua Lake was named one of 12 lakes in the state to receive a portion of $65 million to combat harmful algal blooms (Or HABs) that “threaten recreational use of lakes as well as drinking water.”

As part of his soon-to-be unveiled 2018 State of the State address, Gov. Andrew Cuomo discussed a four-point initiative regarding the conditions of priority lakes. Cuomo said 12 priority lakes — including Chautauqua Lake — are vulnerable to HABs and are critical sources of drinking water and vital tourism drivers.

As part of the proposal, the state will provide $500,000 per lake to develop immediate action plans to reduce sources of pollution that spark algal blooms.

The funding will have to be approved by the state legislature in the 2018-19 fiscal budget, which is due by April 1, 2018.

A Blue Green Algae bloom on Chautauqua Lake. (Photo courtesy of Chautauqua County Department of Health)

WASHINGTON – Senator Chuck Schumer is calling on his colleagues to help address the growing algae problem being seen in waterways across the state, including here in Chautauqua County.

On the heels of reports confirming that harmful algae continues to spread throughout Upstate New York, Schumer is calling on Congress to quickly pass the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act.

Schumer said the bill would help combat the recent rise in toxic algae found in Upstate New York. And Schumer warned, that left unchecked, these toxic blooms could contaminate drinking water for Upstate New York residents, as well as damage the local economy dependent on fishing and recreation.

Schumer said that the bill, sponsored by Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL), provides funding, but also $22 million a year for five-years for research and response efforts to combat Blue Green Algal bloom outbreaks throughout the country.

Schumer said the algae blooms are caused by a number of factors, including nitrogen pollution as a result of older wastewater systems.  Experts say climate change has also brought warmer temperatures and more spring rainfall, both of which favor the growth of algae blooms.

A Blue Green Algae bloom on Chautauqua Lake. (Photo courtesy of Chautauqua County Department of Health)

MAYVILLE – Harmful algal blooms are continuing to plague Chautauqua Lake as we head into the final few weeks of the summer season.

On Friday the Public Health Division of the Chautauqua County Department of Health & Human Services sent out a statement urging all residents and visitors to continue to be cautious when recreating in our lakes, especially if Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) are present.

HABs are created when blue-green algae release toxins which can be harmful to human and animal health.  According to county health officials, a blue-green algae bloom is currently widespread throughout the South Basin of Chautauqua Lake.

The booms are naturally present in lakes, but can grow out of hand due to nutrient rich runoff from surrounding land, warm water temperature, and sunshine.

These blooms are more likely in nearshore areas than open water areas and are known to contain higher toxin levels than those in open water.

People and pets can be exposed to toxins by touching, swallowing, or inhaling HABs during water recreation activities, through surface water use around the house, such as watering gardens, and through drinking water.

The County Health Department monitors local beaches for HABs and E. coli bacteria.  To best protect the public from possible disease exposure, beaches are closed when the water exceeds bacteria safety standards and/or HABs are spotted.

The status of Chautauqua County permitted public beaches and additional information about HABs are listed on the County Website.

The county has also initiated as a series of weekly updates about HABs in Chautauqua County lakes, with widespread HABs in the south basin of Chautauqua Lake and near Long Point State Park; along with isolated blooms in the North Basin.

Algae bloom on Chautauqua Lake, captured in this aerial photo by John McCredie.

MAYVILLE – The Public Health Division of the Chautauqua County Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) urges all Chautauqua County residents and visitors to educate themselves about Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and to be cautious when swimming, boating, and fishing.

In New York, HABs occur most frequently in the mid to late summer months but can occur at any time of the year. Small bloom conditions can change rapidly due to changes in weather and lake currents. Larger blooms will likely persist throughout the summer once they become established.

Know It. Blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, are naturally present in lakes. Nutrient rich runoff from surrounding land, warm water temperature, and sunshine encourages blue-green algae growth. With the right conditions blue-green algae forms blooms which may appear as floating “rafts” or scums on the surface of the water, these blooms are known as Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). Be alert and watchful for blooms which may resemble “pea soup” or have a paint-like appearance with strong colors including blue-green, green, yellow, white, brown, purple, or red. Blooms are more likely in nearshore areas than open water areas.

HABs present a public health risk because they can release toxins which may be harmful to human and animal health. People and pets can be exposed to toxins by contact (touching, swallowing, and inhaling) with HABs during water recreation activities, through surface water use around the house, such as watering gardens, and through drinking water.  Municipal water treatment facilities in Chautauqua County do test for toxins in lake water as part of the treatment process.

Avoid It.  Christine Schuyler, Chautauqua County Director of Health and Human Services, said, “Not all blooms are hazardous but Public Health recommends taking the following precautions:

• When swimming, wading, or boating, avoid areas with blooms or surface scums, or water that is noticeably discolored.  This applies to everyone – adults, children, and animals.
• Don’t fish or eat fish caught from areas with blooms or surface scums, or water that is noticeably discolored.
• Pay attention to beach closures, advisory signs, press releases, and websites.  Never swim at beaches that have been closed.
• Never drink, prepare food, cook, or make ice with untreated surface water, bloom or no bloom.”

If people or pets are accidentally exposed to a bloom use clean water to rinse off as soon as possible. Consider medical attention if people or pets have symptoms including diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, skin irritation, and allergic reactions or breathing difficulties after exposure to surface waters with HABs.

New York State and Chautauqua County has active programs aimed at reducing the amount of phosphorus and nitrogen entering streams and lakes. Watershed management plans have been developed for several lakes in Chautauqua County, including Chautauqua and Findley. As recommendations in the plans are implemented, improved water quality will follow, but it may take years to see improvements.

The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and NYS Department of Health investigate HABs reports, sample blooms for toxins, and conduct research to learn more about HABs and toxin production.

The Chautauqua County Health Department monitors permitted bathing beaches for HABs and the indicator bacteria E. coli.  To best protect the public from possible disease exposure, beaches are closed when the water exceeds bacteria safety standards and/or HABs are spotted.  The status of Chautauqua County permitted public beaches and additional information about HABs are listed on the County Website at       www.co.chautauqua.ny.us/246/Beach-Closings   .

On Tuesday, The Public Health Division of the County Department of Health & Human Services sent out a media release, urging all residents to be cautious when using area lakes, especially if algae is present.  Blue-green algae blooms can be a problem because they can release a toxin, which at high levels is harmful to human and animal health if ingested.

County Health director Christine Schuyler says that the real threat to public health is when people or pets drink or otherwise ingest water directly from a lake where a bloom is occurring.

Health officials have developed a response plan to help protect the public from the effects caused by blue-green algal blooms.  This includes monitoring public beaches and public drinking water supplies, along with collecting a limited number of samples from our lakes.

Officials say there are no mechanical or chemical methods to eliminate a bloom.  The problem can only be solved by reducing nutrients washing into the lake from the watershed, which act as fertilizer for both algae and weeds.

For more information about blue-green algae, visit myhealthycounty.com. The web site also contains information about bathing beach closures for public beaches in Chautauqua County.

The algae, technically known as cyano-bacteria, are microscopic organisms that are naturally present in lakes and streams. They usually are present in low numbers but blue-green algae can become very abundant in warm, shallow, undisturbed surface water that receives a lot of sunlight. When this occurs, they can form blooms that discolor the water or produce floating rafts or scum on the surface of the water. These blooms may appear thick like pea soup, like green paint, or like grass clippings on the water.

County health director Christine Schuyler says the real threat to public health is when people or pets drink or ingest water directly from a lake or pond where a bloom is occurring.

Although our swimming season has come to an end, many people such as boaters, fishermen, and dock maintenance personnel – as well as pets – may still frequent the lake waters and need to avoid direct contact with the algal blooms.

For more information from the Health Department about blue-green algae visit www.health.ny.gov or call the Chautauqua County Health Department at 1-866-604-6789.

A Blue Green Algae bloom on Chautauqua Lake. (Photo courtesy of Chautauqua County Department of Health)

MAYVILLE – The Chautauqua County Health Department is also continuing to closely monitors swimming beaches throughout the county because of high levels of blue-green algae. Several beaches have already been shut down, including Mayville Beach on Chautauqua Lake.

These algae are microscopic organisms that are naturally present in lakes and streams. They usually are present in low numbers but blue-green algae can become very abundant in warm, shallow, undisturbed surface water that receives a lot of sunlight. When this occurs, they can form blooms that discolor the water or produce floating rafts or scum on the surface of the water. These blooms may appear thick like pea soup, like green paint, or like grass clippings on the water.

County Public Health Director Christine Schuyler says the algae can threaten health when people or pets drink or ingest water where a bloom is occurring, which can affect both the nervous system and liver.

Contact such as swimming or showering with water that contains high levels of toxin should also be avoided as it can cause irritation of the skin, eyes, nose and throat and inflammation in the respiratory tract and could accidentally be ingested.

For more information from the Health Department about blue-green algae and Chautauqua County beach closings, please visit www.myhealthycounty.com or call 1-866-604-6789.