One HAB on the lake thus far, will we see more?
Weather is "ripe" for harmful algal blooms, says official. Find out why and how to help fight the blooms.
Saratoga Lake has had one recorded episode of a Harmful Algal Bloom, or HAB, this summer, and an official who oversees the lake warns the Dispatch that this week may see more.
“The coming days in the 90s and no wind, it’s ripe for HABs,” said Cristina Connolly, the lake administrator with the Saratoga Lake Protection and Improvement District.
She quickly added that HABs are natural but not beneficial for humans or pets.
“It’s good for the ecosystem, but it’s not good for recreating in a lake,” she said.
On July 23, a HAB was reported to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and placed on the state’s HABs map.
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“We want property owners to be aware of this. It is serious,” she said in an interview, though she was not aware of that particular sighting until called by the Dispatch.
“HABs can appear and disappear quickly depending on weather, temperature, wind conditions, and nutrient levels,” she wrote in a follow-up email to the Dispatch.
“While SLPID was not notified and did not find the HAB to test,” she wrote in the email, “we always encourage the public to avoid contact with water that looks discolored, has surface scum, or emits an unusual odor.
The east side of the lake is more prone to HABs, as it is shallow and the sun hits that side of the lake much longer.
The cyanobacteria (blue-green) that makes up the bloom can cause troubles from mild skin rash to serious illness or in rare circumstances, death, the Environmental Protection Agency says.
As well, the cyanobacteria blanket can become thick and absorb oxygen needed by other plants and animals in the water, displacing them or killing them off.
SLPID monitors the lake closely and urges all people on the lake to be aware. Connolly added that there are many types of bacteria and not all are bad.
Often what people see is a stringy green benthic algae which is generally not toxic and is natural. She investigated a benthic algae bloom just last week.
“They’re often mistaken for a bloom, for a harmful algae bloom,” she said, but they are not harmful. Often the benthic algae develops on rocks on the lake bottom, but it can mass, and the algae releases a gas, and it’s that gas that lifts the mat to the surface of the water.
The most recent sighting she said lasted a day or two.
So, algae is not always bad for people, but she said it is OK to be wary.
“If ever you see something that looks strange, or smells strange, take precaution and always stay away,” she says.
What you can do to reduce HABS in Saratoga Lake
Report: 518-223-3252 with any questions or concerns.
Prevent nutrient-rich runoff into the lake, which is the cause of fueling algal blooms.
Install and maintain vegetative buffers along the shoreline; they absorb and filter runoff, reducing the amount of nutrients, particularly phosphorous and nitrogen, that reach the lake and fuel algal growth.
Don’t fertilize your lawn.
Avoid hardscaping with patios or sidewalks directly down to the shoreline.
Avoid draining roof gutters directly into the lake.
Don’t remove or cut aquatic plants in shallow water. They are vital for filtering nutrients, stabilizing the shoreline, and providing habitat for fish and wildlife.
Plant native shrubs, grasses, and flowers along your shoreline to slow and filter stormwater before it reaches the lake.