Cyanobacteria Reported At Lake Winnipesaukee And Winnisquam, And Loudon's Clough Pond

CONCORD, NH — The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services issued updated warnings and advisories about cyanobacteria and fecal bacteria in Granite State waterbodies, including contamination in two of the state’s more popular swimming locations.

Cyanobacteria blooms have been reported in Lake Winnipesaukee — Carry and Brewster beaches in Wolfeboro and 19-Mile and Tuftonboro Neck in Tuftonboro. Both bloom reports were confirmed and issued on Wednesday. Officials warned swimmers, waders, boaters, and people with pets to avoid “any surface scum, no matter the color … to prevent toxin exposure … do not recreate, let children play in, or let pets in any surface blooms.”

The state will resample the areas on June 19.

Cyanobacteria threatens public health when it reaches a specific density in the water. Exposure, officials said, is ingestion and skin contact. Symptoms can vary but include skin irritation, stomach cramps, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, fever, sore throat, headache, muscle and joint pain, mouth blisters, and acute liver damage.

“NHDES recommends staying out of the water when a cyanobacteria warning is posted,” an alert stated. “This includes swimming, wading, and any activity that may result in direct contact with the water. NHDES also recommends against using the water for drinking, even when boiled or filtered, dishwashing, bathing, and other household uses when a warning is in place. Children and pets are particularly vulnerable to cyanotoxins.”

Other cyanobacteria warnings include Province Lake in Effingham and Wakefield and Northeast Pond in Milton. Cyanobacteria alerts were also posted for Lake Winnisquam in Belmont, Laconia, Meredith, Sanbornton, and Tilton, as well as Lake Wentworth in Wolfeboro and Clough Pond in Loudon.

There is also an active fecal bacteria advisory at the Zephyr Lake Town Beach in Greenfield.

Warnings and advisories at Duncan Lake in Ossipee, Locke Lake in Barnstead, Swains Lake in Barrington, Bow Lake in Strafford and Northwood, and Lee's Pond in Moultonborough have been removed.

To view the alert list, click on this link. To view the healthy swimming mapper, visit this link.

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