HABs Alert: Harmful Algal Blooms in Tompkins County 2021-09-02

Suspicious cyanobacteria blooms, commonly referred to as Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), continue to be reported in the Tompkins County portion of Cayuga Lake and monitoring is occurring. Trained volunteers and local officials continue to monitor over 60% of the county shoreline for HABs on a weekly basis during the summer. These blooms may be small in size and confined to specific areas of the shoreline and bays. Blooms are often transient, typically lasting only a few hours. Areas where blooms are not observed can continue to be used for recreational use.

The Tompkins County Health Department urges residents and visitors to beware of HABs. These blooms can occur in any calm body of water and may produce toxins that are harmful to people and animals. Do not drink the water and avoid contact with the water if it appears discolored or has an unpleasant odor. Do not allow pets to swim in water where suspicious cyanobacteria blooms are present. Hot weather and intense rain and runoff events can lead to an increase in the presence of HABs.

Three years of HABs data for Cayuga Lake indicate that the occurrence of harmful algal blooms may increase in early September. Blooms tend to occur intermittently throughout the month of September and then subside in early October. These late summer blooms often have high levels of microcystin toxin and occur most frequently in the northern third of the lake.

HABs can also be present in smaller ponds. Residents who have private ponds should monitor their ponds for signs of blooms and avoid contact. Residents may contact Tompkins County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) for guidance on pond management and a possible site visit to view the suspicious bloom.  If a private resident is interested in testing a bloom, please contact the Community Science Institute (607-257-6606) to determine testing options and fees.

Identifying HABs:

• It might be cyanobacteria if you see: strongly colored water, paint-like appearance, blue-green oily swirls, parallel green streaks, floating mats or scum.
• View these images for examples: http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/81962.html
• View this video for more information about identifying HABs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nL_s77FV-o
• For more information about cyanobacteria blooms, please visit the Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring Page on the Community Science Institute’s (CSI’s) website: http://www.communityscience.org/volunteer/harmful-algal-bloom-monitoring/

If contact occurs with suspicious HABs,

• Rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove cyanobacteria. Rinse dogs that may have gone in the water so they do not lick their coats. Click here for more information on the risks HABS present to dogs: https://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/water_pdf/habspets.pdf
• Stop using water and seek medical attention immediately if symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, skin, eye or throat irritation, allergic reactions or breathing difficulties occur after drinking or having contact with blooms or untreated surface water.

The Community Science Institute (CSI)), Cayuga Lake Watershed Network, and Discover Cayuga Lake lead a volunteer program to monitor the Cayuga Lake shoreline for HABs during the summer months. To stay alert to blooms occurring on Cayuga Lake, check the Cayuga Lake HABs Reporting Page on CSI’s website at: http://www.communityscience.org/volunteer/harmful-algal-bloom-monitoring/cayuga-lake-habs-reporting-page/

The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) has a map of reported HABs across the State here: https://nysdec.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=ae91142c812a4ab997ba739ed9723e6e

Report any HAB-related health symptoms to the NYS Health Department at harmfulalgae@health.ny.gov and call your healthcare provider.

• If you see a suspicious bloom in Cayuga Lake, stay out of the water and report the sighting to the Cayuga Lake HABs Monitoring Program by emailing  HABsHotline@gmail.com.
• If you see a suspicious bloom in another public body of water, stay out of the water and report the sighting to the NYSDEC by filling out and submitting a Suspicious Algal Bloom Report Form, found here: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/66337b887ccd465ab7645c0a9c1bc5c0. Email HABSInfo@dec.ny.gov if you are unable to complete the form.