Toxic algae bloom spreads from Varick to Taughannock

Health officials are warning the public to avoid sections of Cayuga Lake after widespread outbreaks of toxic algae were reported this week.

According to the Seneca County Health Department, harmful algal blooms—known as HABs—have been confirmed along the lake’s western shoreline, stretching from Varick to Taughannock. Officials say the current weather—hot, still, and humid—is ideal for bloom formation, and similar outbreaks could emerge anywhere on Cayuga or Seneca Lake.

“HABs typically form during extended periods of warm temperatures and low winds,” the department said in a July 9 news release. The blooms are made up of cyanobacteria, a toxin-producing bacteria that can cause health issues in humans and animals.

Exposure to the blooms can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, headaches, or respiratory and skin irritation. Pets can face more serious outcomes, including death. Officials advise immediately rinsing off with clean water if you or your pet come into contact with affected water.

To protect yourself, health officials urge the public to “Know it, Avoid it, Report it.” Blooms often appear as strongly colored surface water—blue-green, brown, red, or white—with a paint-like look, mats, or scum. Avoid all recreation, including swimming, fishing, or boating, in bloom-affected areas. Do not eat fish caught in bloom zones or use lake water for drinking, cooking, or bathing if a bloom is nearby.

Sightings of harmful algal blooms can be reported through New York State’s online HABs map and reporting system.

Staff Report

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