Harmful algal blooms, more commonly known as HABs, are starting to appear on Cayuga Lake’s shoreline again this year. To the untrained eye, HABs can be mistaken for pollen because of its yellowish hue and similar appearance on the water. However, HABs can cause nausea and diarrhea in humans and can be deadly for pets and other species in the water. HABs most commonly appear in September and early October, but due to climate change we are starting to see blooms as early as May. With the Finger Lakes regional economy largely defined by tourism, this threat to the safety of the watershed could result in economic drawbacks and may deter visitors. The Department of Environmental Conservation cut funding for routine tests that measured the toxicity of these blooms several years ago. One of the only ways these bloom samples are still being tested is through the local non-profit, Community Science Institute, which routinely posts accurate data of their own toxicity level tests. Agricultural runoff from farm fields amplifies these toxic blooms. New York State Senator Rachel May has passed a bill through the Senate which would reinstate the DECs responsibility to prevent HABs, but it is still awaiting action in the Assembly’s Environmental Conservation Committee. (Credit for this article goes to Peter Mantius)
Link to Peter Mantius’s article on this:
