Tag:

Cyanobacteria

Gaithersburg, MD
Lifestyle
Pet Owners Warned To Keep Animals Away From Potomac River Due To Algae Mats Pet Owners Warned To Keep Animals Away From Potomac River Due To Algae Mats
Pet Owners Warned To Keep Animals Away From Potomac River Due To Algae Mats Pet owners are being advised to keep their animals away from parts of the Potomac River after potentially deadly algae mats were detected.  A new alert was issued by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources cautioning that the algae - which was collected from Williamsport to Riley Lock - could be harmful to animals if ingested. This week, a second advisory was issued for the Cumberland area. According to officials, "the algae has the appearance of mats of fine, green cotton and can be found along the shoreline, attached to rocks or plants, on the bottom or floating downstream…

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by Zak Failla
Worcester, MA
News
Harmful Bacterial Bloom Forces Worcester Lake To Close Harmful Bacterial Bloom Forces Worcester Lake To Close
Harmful Bacterial Bloom Forces Worcester Lake To Close Officials in Worcester closed Indian Lake after a bacterial bloom that is harmful to humans and animals was detected in the water.  The Department of Inspectional Services said it had found cyanobacteria in the lake, which can produce toxins harmful to people and pets, the city announced on Thursday, Aug. 1. Indian Lake would remain closed until tests come back clean.  City officials said anyone who comes in contact with scum at Indian Lake should wash it off immediately with fresh water. Pet owners should contact their veterinarians immediately if their animals ingest a…

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by Josh Lanier
Gaithersburg, MD
Lifestyle
Pet Owners Warned To Keep Animals Away From Potomac River Due To Algae Mats Pet Owners Warned To Keep Animals Away From Potomac River Due To Algae Mats
Pet Owners Warned To Keep Animals Away From Potomac River Due To Algae Mats Pet owners are being advised to keep their animals away from parts of the Potomac River after potentially deadly algae mats were detected.  An alert was issued by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources cautioning that the algae - which was collected from Williamsport to Riley Lock - could be harmful to animals if ingested. According to officials, "the algae has the appearance of mats of fine, green cotton and can be found along the shoreline, attached to rocks or plants, on the bottom or floating downstream."  PET HEALTH ALERT: Algae mats detected in the Potomac Riv…

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by Zak Failla
Amherst, MA
News
Algae Bloom Threatens Wildlife, Pets In Easthampton Pond Algae Bloom Threatens Wildlife, Pets In Easthampton Pond
Algae Bloom Threatens Wildlife, Pets In Easthampton Pond Officials in Hampshire County are telling residents to avoid the Rubber Thread Pond in Easthampton after a toxic algae bloom has taken over the water.  Easthampton leaders posted the warning on the city's Facebook page after tests showed possible signs of the toxic algae cyanobacteria.  The Massachusetts Department of Public Health will continue to conduct tests until the bloom has gone. Until then, residents should avoid swimming, fishing, or touching the water.  Contact with the infected water can cause skin irritation, gastrointestinal distress, liver or ne…

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by Josh Lanier
Cambridge, MA
News
Blue-Green Algae Sighting Puts Swimming On Hold In Eastern Mass Town Blue-Green Algae Sighting Puts Swimming On Hold In Eastern Mass Town
Blue-Green Algae Sighting Puts Swimming On Hold In Eastern Mass Town Residents in eastern Massachusetts are being told to refrain from swimming after a potentially toxic algae was detected in their town's bodies of water.  The Wayland Health Department has declared a Public Health Advisory following reports of cyanobacteria in the North Pond area of Lake Cochituate, the town said in a release.  Cyanobacteria is a blue-green algae that occurs naturally in freshwater, the Massachusetts Department of Health (DPH) says.  With the potential to spread and create an "algae bloom," the bacteria can be unsafe to humans and pets. These b…

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by David Cifarelli
Tappan-Blauvelt, NY
News
Popular Lake, State Park In Hudson Valley Closed Due To Blue-Green Algae Popular Lake, State Park In Hudson Valley Closed Due To Blue-Green Algae
Popular Lake, State Park In Hudson Valley Closed Due To Blue-Green Algae A popular lake and state park in the Hudson Valley is closed due to high levels of blue-green algae. Harriman State Park in Rockland County has closed Lake Welch Beach, the picnic grounds, and the public boat launch until further notice due to the harmful algae bloom, said officials with the state parks department. The algae have affected all of Lake Welch, officials said. "The closures are necessary to protect public health and safety," the department said. "Visitors should seek alternate locations for swimming and picnicking." Blue-green algae is a type of bacteria called cyanobacteria.…

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by Kathy Reakes
Highland Lakes-Vernon, NJ
News
Swimming Advisory Lifted In Portion Of Lake Hopatcong Only Accessible By Boat Swimming Advisory Lifted In Portion Of Lake Hopatcong Only Accessible By Boat
Swimming Advisory Lifted In Portion Of Lake Hopatcong Only Accessible By Boat A swimming advisory in a portion of Lake Hopatcong only accessible by boat has been lifted after nearly a month. State environmental officials issued the advisory in place during a harmful algae bloom in late June. Measurements in Indian Harbor indicate that cyanobacteria levels are below the State’s 20,000 cells per milliliter advisory threshold.  Bacteria levels at Indian Harbor were 19,000 on July 23, and 18,500 on July 25.  Indian Harbor is near beaches that will not be accessible due to continued high bacteria levels, including 24,750 at Pebble Beach, 24,500 at Sand Harbor …

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by Cecilia Levine
Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ
News
CLOSED! Bacteria Levels In Greenwood Lake Are 10X Above State Health Standard CLOSED! Bacteria Levels In Greenwood Lake Are 10X Above State Health Standard
Closed! Bacteria Levels In Greenwood Lake Are 10X Above State Health Standard Greenwood Lake is New Jersey’s fourth to contain a harmful algae bloom this summer. Bacteria levels from the HAB are nearly 10 times higher than the state health standard, water samples taken Monday show. Cyanobacteria levels from the New Jersey side of the lake were 212,000 cells per milliliter (state standard is 20,000 cells per milliliter), DEP lab results show. The lowest sample taken showed 90,000 cells per milliliter, and that was taken from the middle section of the lake. The northern section showed 61,000 and Browns Point, a park on the West Milford lake, was 148,000. Water s…

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by Cecilia Levine
Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ
News
DEP: Harmful Algae Bloom Shuts Lake Hopatcong, 30 Skin Rashes Reported DEP: Harmful Algae Bloom Shuts Lake Hopatcong, 30 Skin Rashes Reported
DEP: Harmful Algae Bloom Shuts Lake Hopatcong, 30 Skin Rashes Reported The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection is urging people to stay away from the water at Lake Hopatcong due to a harmful algae bloom (HAB). The DEP has received more than 30 reports of HABs on Lake Hopatcong since June 17, including reports of people experiencing mild skin rashes after coming in contact with lake water. As a precaution, the DEP is recommending that local health authorities close all public swimming beaches along the lake due to the widespread nature of the bloom. Based on the widespread nature of the HAB, the recreational advisory may be in place for weeks, if…

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by Cecilia Levine
Highland Lakes-Vernon, NJ
News
CLOSED: Algae Bloom Shuts Swartswood Lake State Park Swimming Area CLOSED: Algae Bloom Shuts Swartswood Lake State Park Swimming Area
Closed: Algae Bloom Shuts Swartswood Lake State Park Swimming Area The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has temporarily suspended swimming at Swartswood State Park due to a suspected harmful algae bloom. Visitors are instructed not to swim, wade, play in or drink the water in the swimming area at the Sussex County park.  Pets and animals should also refrain from any contact with the water, and fish caught from the area should not be eaten, the DEP said. Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae), are naturally present in streams and lakes, and are responsible for the majority harmful algae blooms, the DEP said. They can produce toxins tha…

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by Cecilia Levine