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Similar blooms of the blue-green algae — cyanobacteria — have also been found at at the beaches at Kettletown State Park in Southbury, DEEP said.
"Those swim areas are open but we are alerting swimmers to stay away from areas where the algae blooms have created greenish patches on the surface of the water," DEEP said in a statement. "We have posted a similar warning at the boat launch on Candlewood Lake" in Danbury.
Blue-green algae occurs naturally in lakes and ponds throughout Connecticut. The microscopic organisms often go unnoticed and cause no harm.
However, when nutrient loading exceeds certain levels, a pond or lake can experience nuisance blue-green algae blooms that may produce and release toxins.
During a bloom the following conditions may be seen:
- The water may be cloudy or even thick like pea soup.
- It may look like someone spilled paint on the water.
- The water will likely be green or brown.
- There may be a mat of algae, scum or foaming on the water surface.
For more information at blue-green algae, click here.
For this weekend, all four shoreline state park beaches — including Sherwood Island in Westport and Silver Sand in Milford — are open, DEEP said.
Five inland swim areas are closed and will be retested next week:
- Gardner Lake State Park in Salem, retest on Aug. 10, with results due on Aug. 11
- Gay City S.P. in Hebron, retest on Aug. 10, results due on Aug. 11
- Mashamoquet Brook S.P. in Pomfret, retest on Aug. 7, with results due on Aug. 8
- Quaddick S.P. in Thompson, retest on Aug. 7, with results due Aug. 8
- Wadsworth Falls S.P. in Middlefield, retest on Aug. 9; with results due on Aug. 10
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