Algae Bloom Closes Kettletown Beach Until Further Notice

Editor’s Note: This story was first published earlier in the week but here it is again in case you missed it.

Kettletown State Park beach in Southbury will be closed to swimmers until further notice.

The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, in a press release Tuesday, said the closure is due to the presence of blue-green algae which can emit toxins that can be harmful to people and dogs.

The algae, also known as cyanobacteria, occur naturally in lakes and ponds throughout Connecticut and often go unnoticed and cause no harm.

However, high temperatures and high levels of phosphorus, from storm water runoff, can produce algae blooms and toxins can be released.

Swimming in waters when there is a blue-green algae bloom exposes people or dogs to toxins by ingesting or inhaling water or through skin contact.

• Irritation of the skin, nose, eyes and respiratory tract.
• Gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting or diarrhea upon ingestion.
• Liver or nervous system effects, if relatively large amounts of the algae are ingested.

Additional information on blue-green algae blooms can be found on this Connecticut government website.