UPDATE
On August 11 and August 18, 2019, at 8:00 p.m., the New York City Parks Department observed and reported to the New York State of Department of Environmental Conservation the continued widespread, or lakewide, presence of high toxins--HABs (Harmful Algal Blooms) in Prospect Park Lake.
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June 7, 2019
Toxins are flourishing in Prospect Park Lake. The toxins--Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)--are reported to be "widespread or lakewide."
Every year, starting in June, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) notifies the public about these HABs. Bear in mind that some bodies of water that have HABs may not have been reported to DEC, so avoid contact with floating mats, scums, and discolored water.
The specific HABs in Prospect Park Lake are blue-green algae blooms or BGA (cyanobacteria). They can make water look like pea soup or like green, blue, or red paint. Or, mats of blue or green pond scum may be floating on the water surface or may have accumulated along the shoreline.
Photos of the various appearances that the toxic blue-green algae blooms can have are posted on the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) website.
When the blooms are widespread, as they currently are in Prospect Park Lake, they can affect either the entire lake, a large portion of the lake, or most to all of the shoreline.
Prospect Park Lake is monitored for blooms every week. Adults, children, and dogs should not go into the lake or near the shoreline. If you or a pet have been in contact with a HAB, rinse thoroughly with soap and water or just with clean water, if that's all that's available to you.
If you believe you have been exposed to a bloom and are experiencing any symptoms, get medical help immediately and also contact the New York City Department of Health.
Possible effects of the toxins on living creatures are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, skin or throat irritation, allergic reactions, and breathing difficulties. The toxins can also affect the liver and nervous systems if a lot of water is swallowed. Read more about this on the DEC website.
The DEC offers this advice and more:
- Swimmers should be concerned about HABs (Harmful Algal Blooms) in any lake in which they are considering swimming.
- Never drink untreated surface water, whether or not algae blooms are present.
- The New York Freshwater Fishing Guide advises anglers to avoid eating fish caught from areas that have the thick paint-like or pea soup-like coloration characteristic of cyanobacteria blooms.
- HABs cells can stick to animal fur and become concentrated when the animal cleans itself.
Prospect Park Alliance is going to create a natural filtration system that would stem the growth of algae blooms.