Tonetta Lake Beach Closed Due To Toxic Algae Bloom

SOUTHEAST, NY — Tonetta Lake Beach, the popular place for residents of the town of Southeast to swim, is closed due to a harmful algae bloom until further notice.

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.

On Saturday, town officials notified the Health Department that they observed a blue-green algae bloom in the swim area on Tonetta Lake and closed the beach, Shawn Rogan, Director of Environmental Health at Putnam County Department of Health, told Patch.

"Once the Health Department has been notified that a bloom has subsided, we collect a clearance water sample in the swimming area per NYSDOH protocols," Rogan said. "A State lab analyzes the sample for microcystins which are the toxins produced by the algae. If the results are below 4 micrograms per liter the beach will be approved to reopen immediately."

The beach operator was instructed to monitor the bloom and report to the Health Department when the bloom subsides.

The height of summer is a tough time to lose access. "Other than taking swimming lessons there in the 60’s I don’t go to the beach, but those that do miss it immensely," Town Supervisor Tony Hay told Patch.

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 contributes 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.

In the Hudson Valley, Putnam currently has the most active blooms, including two reported at Tonetta Lake, one July 15 and one July 18.

Putnam's list of current beach closures can also be found here.

SEE ALSO: 'Explosive' Season For Toxic Algae Possible in 2023