Lake Carmel Beaches Tested Following Closure Due To Algae

LAKE CARMEL, N.Y. -- Three out of four beaches along Lake Carmel that were closed last week due to the presence of blue-green algae have been tested for clearance, according to officials with the Putnam County Department of Health (DOH).

Lifeguards at a Lake Carmel beach
Photo Credit: *Skip Pearlman*

Tom Auchterlonie

07/23/2015 4:00 p.m.

The clearance samples were taken on Thursday and will be sent to a state lab for testing, DOH official Robert Morris said. Based on the results, a decision could be made as soon as tomorrow on whether to reopen the beaches, Morris added.

Four beaches were initially closed on July 13 due to the presence of the algae, DOH representative Anne Bittner said. Morris described the algae as being "visibly present."

The fourth beach still has visible algae, Morris added, and thus was not tested for clearance.

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