As we head into the Labor Day weekend, there are a lot of question on which public beaches will be open for swimming. The Department of Health has completed another round of sampling for the beaches this week, and based on the results, Deep Run Beach, Onanda Beach and Butler (Schoolhouse) Beach will remain closed at this time. Test results are indicating that the microcystin toxin levels still exceed the state threshold for re-opening, which is 4 ug/L (micrograms per liter). Kershaw beach was tested and the results allowed the beach to be reopened. At this time Kershaw Beach and Vine Valley Beach remain open.
These results emphasize the need to use caution as we head into the long weekend. Many areas of the lake are well below bloom conditions, but we know conditions can change quickly, so continue to use your visual indicators before entering the lake (check out the DEC photo gallery for examples of blue green algae). Please remember that pets are especially vulnerable to harmful algae blooms.
What about the areas that show “dots in the water”? Are those areas safe? This is a question we get very frequently. Most of us are becoming more educated on what a bloom is and can make our own visual assessments – we know to avoid streaks, surface scum, or green water (spilled paint). However, there are other lake conditions that aren’t so clear cut. Significantly reduced clarity and/or “dots in the water” can be early indicators of an emerging bloom, so is best to still use caution in these areas. The limited toxin results from the beach samples are indicating toxins can occur in areas not experiencing blooms. With conditions changing so frequently due to varying factors - lack of wind to mix up surface waters, sunny conditions – these areas that look relatively harmless can quickly form into blooms if the conditions are just right.
Each of the public water supplies continue to sample their water and the treated water results are all non-detectable for the microcystin toxin.
We will try to keep the public updated. As always, you can visit the maps that are generated from our shoreline monitoring program and the NYS DEC NYHABS page to see the most current HABs reports.
Heading into the long weekend, we encourage everyone to continue to use good judgment when recreating in the water.
Questions? Send to HABS@canandaigualakeassoc.org.
Kevin Olvany Watershed Program Manager
Canandaigua Lake Watershed Council
Lindsay McMillian CLWA Association Director
We just received word that the state DOH will allow the City to reopen Kershaw Beach based on the test results from samples collected on Thursday. However, Deep Run Beach, Onanda Beach and Butler (Schoolhouse) Beach will remain closed due to test results from samples collected Thursday indicating that the microcystin toxin levels exceed the state threshold for re-opening the beach.
The DOH also completed testing of the 6 water providers- Newark, Palmyra, Canandaigua, Gorham, Rushville and Bristol Harbor. The test results for each of the purveyors treated (finished) water came back as non-detectable for the microcystin toxin. The DOH will continue to work with the water providers on testing and optimizing treatment approaches.
Based on the beach testing results we strongly suggest that you continue to use caution before entering the water and that you use visual indicators to look for any signs of algae. Watershed staff and trained volunteers have been out surveying stretches of the lake today and we had a couple isolated reports of algae streaking near the shoreline on both the east and west side of the lake. Water clarity was down to about 3 meters in the northern basin yesterday.
It is very important to remember to use your visual indicators while using the lake (check out the DEC photo gallery for examples). Please stay out of the water in areas where there are any concentrations of algae. It is impossible to tell whether or not a bloom is toxic by looking at it, so please avoid these areas. Protect your furry friends! Please remember that pets are especially vulnerable to harmful algae blooms since they drink a lot of water when in the lake and can ingest large quantities of algae when grooming themselves. Please check out the “Dogs and Harmful Algae Blooms” brochure linked below for more information.
Questions? Send to HABS@canandaigualakeassoc.org.
Kevin Olvany Watershed Council Program Manager
Lindsay McMillian CLWA Association Director
We are seeing very different conditions today with the hot, calm weather allowing the BGA to concentrate at the surface. We are seeing extensive blooms in the northern half of the lake. Clarity has dropped by almost two meters in the north basin in 48 hours and we are seeing extensive blooms along the east and west shoreline and many bloom patches and lots of streaking in the mid lake area. Further south near Onanda Park, water clarity is somewhat better with Secchi disk readings of 5.7 meters. However, we were still seeing significant dots in the water column in this area. We have had some reports of surface streaking in the southern half of the lake as well.
Please use caution before entering the water. It is very important to remember to use your visual indicators while using the lake. Please stay out of the water in areas where there are bloom like conditions. It is impossible to tell whether or not a bloom is toxic by looking at it, so please avoid these areas. Please remember that pets are especially vulnerable to Blue Green Algae since they drink a lot of water when in the lake and the algae can concentrate on their fur and they can ingest large quantities when they groom themselves.
