A bright green slick showed up unusually early on Cayuga Lake, according to the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network and Community Science Institute, marking the first confirmed harmful algal bloom of 2026.
A volunteer spotted the bloom just south of Harris Park and collected a sample. Analysts confirmed it contained abundant Microcystis, a type of cyanobacteria linked to harmful blooms.
Officials say it’s the earliest recorded bloom on the lake, highlighting how fast conditions can shift. They urge people to avoid suspicious water and report sightings as monitoring ramps up in June.
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