Tonetta Lake Beach Closed Again: Update

UPDATE: Tonetta Lake Beach is closed until further notice due to water issues, officials announced Thursday.

SOUTHEAST, NY — Officials announced Wednesday that Tonetta Lake Beach would reopen Thursday, after 12 days closed due to a toxic algae bloom.

"We received notification from the Health Department that we are cleared to re-open. Swim & Learn will start at the beach at 9:30 a.m. and the lake will open to Southeast residents beginning at 12:00 p.m.," town officials said. "Thank you for your patience!"

Harmful algal blooms are toxic growths in ponds and lakes.

Exposure to any HABs can cause health effects in people and animals when water with blooms is touched, swallowed, or when airborne droplets are inhaled. Exposure to high levels of HABs and their toxins can cause diarrhea, nausea or vomiting; skin, eye or throat irritation; and allergic reactions or breathing difficulties.

A national campaign by a woman whose three dogs died after swimming has raised awareness of the dangers in recent years.

Toxic algae threaten bodies of water across New York. Individual algal cells cannot be seen with the unaided eye; however, they can form large, visible colonies called blooms.

They usually multiply and bloom when water is warm, stagnant and filled with nutrients from sources such as septic systems, wastewater treatment plants and fertilizer runoff. Harmful algal blooms are made up of colonies of toxic cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae).

Dr. Jessica Frost, U.S. Science Director at BlueGreen Water Technologies, said warmer winters with less ice cover also contribute to the current rise in harmful algal blooms year-round.

New York has an interactive map showing all the hazardous algae blooms in the state. Each dot on NYHABS represents an individual HAB report, and includes the date of the report, the HAB status, the extent of the bloom, who submitted the report, the county, and any photos submitted with the report.

Putnam has the most in the Hudson Valley, according to the most recent map. Blooms were also reported in July at Putnam Lake, Oscawana Lake and Lake Peekskill.