Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs): What Are They?
Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), also referred to as blue-green algae, is a toxic algae that is found in our local bodies of water. HABs can appear in many different forms such as foam, scum, mats, or can look like green paint floating on the surface of the water. HABs appear on bodies of water all over the United States, including on Cayuga and Seneca lakes here in the Seneca County.
HABs typically form during extended periods of warm temperatures and low winds. HABs consist of Cyanobacteria, a bacteria that contains harmful toxins which cause health risks for humans and animals. Contact with a HAB primarily occurs from ingestion and/or skin contact but can occur through breathing in water droplets around a bloom.
Health effects from HABs in humans can consist of skin or respiratory irritation, headaches, nausea, or vomiting. If you come into contact with a HAB and are experiencing any of these symptoms you are encouraged to contact your healthcare provider.
Animals can experience more severe complications from contact with HABs including death. If you or your pet come into contact with a HAB, you should immediately rinse the eyes and skin with fresh water to minimize potential risk.
Boaters and kayakers are encouraged to avoid boating through HABs as exposure can occur from breathing in water droplets, mist, or spray from water contaminated with HABs. It is also good practice for boaters and kayakers to thoroughly clean, wash, and drain their vessels after potential contact with a HAB.
The best way to protect yourself from a Harmful Algal Bloom is to: Know it, Avoid it, Report it.
Know it- Weather plays a major factor in the formation of HABs. With the high temperatures and low winds that the Finger Lakes region has been experiencing, HABs are occurring daily across the Finger Lakes. Blooms accumulate at the surface anywhere on a body of water. It might be a harmful algae bloom in surface water if you see:
- Strongly colored water (blue-green, green, yellow, white, brown, purple, or red).
- Paint-like appearance.
- Floating mats or scum.
Avoid it- Always stay away from suspected blooms. Do not swim, wade, fish, or boat in a bloom. Fish caught from areas with HABs should not be eaten. Residents who draw water directly from the lake should not drink or use affected water for household purposes (including cooking, bathing, making ice, etc.) if a HAB is near their property. Boiling the water will not get rid of HABs. The Seneca County Health Department does not recommend using untreated lake water for drinking and other culinary purposes such as making ice, washing fresh fruits and vegetables, or brushing your teeth.
Report it- To report a Harmful Algal Bloom on Cayuga Lake, please use the following link: https://bit.ly/2025-Community-Member-HABs-Report. If you do not have a Gmail account, you will be required to create one.
To report a Harmful Algal Bloom on Seneca Lake or other bodies of water, please visit the following link: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/e5dec19912454731a308bbb7af605fb3/
More information on Harmful Algal Blooms can be found at the following links:
https://senecacountyhealthdepartment.com/habs/
http://www.communityscience.org/monitoring-partnerships/harmful-algal-bloom-monitoring/
