Seneca Lake has remained free of confirmed harmful algal blooms this week even as HAB activity has accelerated across several neighboring Finger Lakes.
The Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association reported no confirmed blooms between Aug. 1 and Aug. 7, while noting that recent conditions — including rapidly warming surface water and elevated dissolved oxygen — are worth watching as the region moves deeper into August.
Surface water temperature on Seneca Lake reached 76.3 degrees Friday, Aug. 7, following what Pure Waters described as a sharp one-day increase after a cooler-than-normal summer.
Dissolved oxygen measured about 120% in the lake’s upper layer, roughly the top 25 feet. Pure Waters said the unusually high reading was likely connected to strong algal photosynthetic activity during the recent stretch of warm, sunny weather.
The lake level was 445.67 feet Friday, just below the lower end of the summer target range of 445.7 feet.
The measurements were compiled using data from the Finger Lakes Institute’s real-time monitoring buoy, Pure Waters volunteers and NOAA.
Nearby lakes are seeing active blooms
Seneca’s lack of confirmed HABs stands in contrast to conditions elsewhere in the region.
State data cited by Pure Waters showed 62 confirmed HAB reports across the Finger Lakes between July 24 and Aug. 4, including recent activity on Canandaigua, Cayuga, Owasco and Keuka lakes.
Canandaigua officials closed the city’s public beach and dog beach Friday after harmful algal blooms were identified in the water.
That regional activity is part of the reason Pure Waters said Seneca Lake conditions should continue to be watched closely.
August is historically a peak period for harmful algal bloom activity in the Finger Lakes, and blooms can develop or move quickly depending on water temperature, sunlight, wind and water movement.
Pure Waters launches weekly updates
Friday’s report was the first in a new series of weekly water quality updates from the Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association.
The organization said the updates are intended to provide residents and lake users with more frequent information through the remainder of the season.
Pure Waters is urging people to avoid water that appears discolored or has surface scum, bright green or blue-green coloration, green streaks or swirling mats.
Anyone who sees a suspected bloom should keep people and pets out of the water, photograph the area and report the observation to state environmental officials and Seneca Lake Pure Waters.
While no harmful algal blooms have been confirmed on Seneca Lake this week, the association said conditions can change quickly and the heavy bloom activity on surrounding lakes underscores the need for continued monitoring through the rest of the summer.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.