Harmful algal blooms are widespread on Cayuga Lake and have been spotted on Oneida, Otisco, and Cazenovia Lakes. But the concern for them on Skaneateles Lake is even greater concern because 200,000 families get their drinking water from there.
There are no signs of harmful algal blooms right now, but according to Skaneateles Lake Association President Paul Torrisi, that doesn’t mean we’re in the clear. As the water gets warmer, it becomes a breeding ground for toxic algae.
A group of volunteers with the Skaneateles Lake Association and the DEC scan the water on a daily basis looking for any signs of harmful blooms, like what we saw last summer and in 2017.
“Certain toxins can be harmful to the liver and brain and that’s a concern,” said Torrisi. “Especially since this is the drinking water for hundreds of thousands of families.
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