Cyanobactieria Found In Stony Brook: Suffolk County Officials

STONY BROOK, NY — Cyanobacteria Blooms found in Roth Pond in Stony Brook were one of three found in Suffolk County this week, health department officials said Friday.

Analysis of surface water samples performed by the State University of New York Stony Brook has confirmed the presence of new cyanobacteria blooms, more commonly known as blue-green algae. Due to these findings, officials are asking residents not to use or recreate in the waters and to keep their children and pets away from the area.

The blooms were also found in Wainscott Pond in Wainscott and Lake Agawam in Southampton.

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, and threy may produce floating scums on the surface of the water or may cause the water to take on paint-like appearance.

Contact with waters that appear scummy or discolored should be avoided. If contact does occur, rinse off with clean water immediately, and medical attention should be sought if there are symptoms of nausea, vomiting or diarrhea; skin, eye or throat irritation; or allergic reactions or breathing difficulties after contact.

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

To report a suspected blue-green algae bloom at a body of water that does not contain a county-permitted bathing beach, email the state's Department of Environmental Conservation at habsinfo@dec.ny.gov.