Blue-green scum plagues popular beaches, boat launch areas

WESTPORT | Harmful scum spawned by toxic cyanobacteria has emerged at many popular shoreline areas along Lake Champlain. Even with stormy weather coming and going, some blooms have persisted in places such as Westport's public beach and the boat launch further north, and at Begg's Point in Essex. Other blooms tested on July 20 were marked "high alert" status on Willsboro Point, both inside the bay and along the lake, according to the Vermont Cyanobacteria Tracker, a monitoring system provided by the Lake Champlain Committee and scientists from the Vermont departments of Health and Environmental Conservation. Volunteers with the Lake Champlain Committee test and submit visual observations with photographs at many local points each week. The Vermont project is run separately from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) website and mapping system, which updates less frequently and monitors "harmful algae," including the blue-green muck caused by cyanobacteria. On New York's maps, persistent cyanobacteria HABs have been found at Point Au Roche and in the Cumberland Bay area of Lake Champlain as well as at Westport's beach and at Begg's Point in Essex. The language for beach and boat launch warnings may seem confusing when referred to as either harmful algae or cyanobacteria. That's because blue-green algae are classified scientifically as bacteria but referred to commonly as algae. BACTERIA, NOT ALGAE Vermont's Department of Health uses the scientific reference: "Cyanobacteria are often called blue-green algae, but cyanobacteria and algae are very different organisms. The most important difference is that sometimes cyanobacteria can produce toxins that can be harmful if swallowed, whereas algae is generally harmless." According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), "Most species of algae are not harmful, but sometimes certain types bloom in excessive amounts and can cause harm to human and pet health, aquatic ecosystems, and local economies. "These harmful algal blooms (HABs), usually associated with algae that produce toxins, cause problems across the (United States). Even though they are classified as bacteria, cyanobacteria—sometimes referred to as blue-green algae—exhibit characteristics of algae and are associated with HABs." Harmful algal bloom alerts in both New York and Vermont pertain to cyanobacteria or "blue-green algae." LOCAL ALERTS There have been many alerts in recent days. On July 20, a high alert bloom was spotted at the Westport Boat Launch as were high alert blooms on either side of Willsboro Point. Only July 20, Port Douglas Beach near Keeseville was closed to swimming due to cyanobacterial blooms. A high alert HAB was spotted at Whallons Bay in Essex on July 19. Blooms found in Port Henry at Bulwagga Bay and at the Port Henry Boat Launch on July 17 were labeled "generally safe." The same "generally safe" alert levels have been found at the boat launch areas in Ticonderoga and at Crown Point. High Alert cyanobacteria warnings have been given repeatedly at popular boating spots on the Vermont side of Lake Champlain, such as at Button Bay and Kingsland Bay State Parks in Ferrisburgh, and at Oakledge Park, Texaco Beach, and Leddy Park in South Burlington and Burlington. HEALTH EFFECTS Toxins in cyanobacteria can cause health problems that can be severe in small children or pets. Vermont's DOH says health effects from cyanobacteria depend on the amount someone is exposed to, how they are exposed, whether toxins are being produced, and the type of toxin. "People may get rashes or other skin irritations from coming into contact with blooms. Usually, these skin irritations are not associated with toxins, but with other compounds in cyanobacteria cells. "Breathing in water droplets with cyanobacteria or toxins may cause allergic-like reactions, runny noses, or sore throats. "Swallowing water with high levels of cyanobacteria toxins may cause severe stomach problems like abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting; liver damage, which may take hours or days to show up in people or animals or numb lips, tingling fingers and toes, or dizziness." Anyone with health concerns related to possible exposure to cyanobacteria should talk with their health care provider. Updates on conditions for Lake Champlain are posted on the Vermont Health Department website: healthvermont.gov/health-environment/recreational-water/lake-conditions Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer monitor on Lake Champlain can contact the Lake Champlain Committee at lcc@lakechamplaincommittee.org NYSDEC also maintains a citizen reporting system for HABs: https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/77118.html Anyone who spots or suspects a HAB can report it to NYDEC using a Suspicious Algal Bloom Report Form. NYSDEC asks people who've found a suspicious bloom to attach digital photos (close-up and landscape) to the form. People can also submit suspected cyanobacteria reports and photos to NYSDEC via email: HABsInfo@dec.ny.gov Cyanobacteria conditions on Lake Champlain are reported regularly with detailed photos by the Vermont Department of Health: healthvermont.gov

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Blue-green scum plagues popular beaches, boat launch areas

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