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Harmful Algae Blooms confirmed on Seneca Lake

Seneca Pure Waters Association

An organization in Seneca County is reporting that recent samples taken from Seneca Lake have confirmed, for the first time this summer, the presence of cyanobacteria, commonly referred to as Blue-Green Algae.

That’s according to the Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association.

Hobart and William Smith College’s Finger Lakes Institute and SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry tested samples from two locations, the Perry Point area near Dresden and the Hector shoreline north of Glen Eldridge Point.

Levels of cyanobacteria that are considered harmful to people and animals were found in both locations.

The association says that contact with the algae blooms can have harmful effects, ranging from skin irrigation to lung, liver and nervous system problems.

This is the second year in a row that the cyanobacteria has been confirmed in Seneca Lake. There were three confirmed occurrences last year in the late summer.

Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.