New Cyanobacteria Blooms Found In Agawam Lake

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — New cyanobacteria blooms have been found in Agawam Lake in Southampton, the Suffolk County Department of Health Services said.

Sampling performed by SUNY Stony Brook has confirmed the presence of new cyanobacteria blooms, more commonly known as blue–green algae, in both Lake Agawam and Lake Ronkonkoma, a release said.

One regulated bathing beach on Lake Ronkonkoma, Islip Beach, is closed to bathing due to the discovery of the blooms.

In addition, cyanobacteria blooms are still present in Laurel Lake in Laurel, Maratooka Lake in Mattituck, Roth Pond at SUNY in Stony Brook, Mill Pond in Watermill, and Wainscott Pond in East Hampton, officials said.

Due to the findings, health officials have asked residents not to use, swim, or wade in those waters and to keep their pets and children away from the area.

Though blue-green algae are naturally present in lakes and streams in low numbers, they can become abundant, forming blooms in shades of green, blue-green, yellow, brown or red. They may produce floating scums on the surface of the water or may cause the water to take on paint-like appearance, officials said.

Contact with waters that appear scummy or discolored should be avoided. If contact does occur, rinse off with clean water immediately; seek medical attention if any of the following symptoms occur after contact: nausea, vomiting or diarrhea; skin, eye or throat irritation; or allergic reactions or breathing difficulties, officials said.

To report a suspected blue-green algae bloom at a body of water that contains a Suffolk County-permitted bathing beach, contact the Suffolk County Department of Health Services’ Office of Ecology at 631-852-5760 between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or by email at any time at scdhsweb@suffolkcountyny.gov.

To report a suspected blue-green algae bloom that is in a body of water that does not contain a Suffolk County permitted bathing beach, contact the Division of Water at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservatin at 518-402-8179 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. or anytime via email at habsinfo@dec.ny.gov. Or use the NY HAB system here.

For a comprehensive list of affected waterbodies in New York State, visit the DEC’s harmful algal bloom notification page here or the NY HAB system here.

For more information about blue-green algae, as well as other harmful algal blooms, visit the Suffolk County website here.