Update: The HABs have spread further. Their extent is now described as "Widespread or Lakewide." On May 27th, June 2nd, and June 8th, it had been described as "Large Localized."
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Toxins flourish every summer and for part of the fall in Prospect Park Lake. As the summer progresses, the toxins in the lake eventually become widespread. At the moment, they're "large localized."
New York City's Parks Department observed and reported the condition on May 27th to New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The DEC's map shows the location of the toxins throughout all of New York State.
The toxins are "Harmful Algal Blooms" (HABs). The ones found in Prospect Park Lake are blue-green algae blooms or BGA (cyanobacteria). They can make water resemble pea soup. The water can be blue-green, green, yellow, white, brown, purple, or red. It can resemble paint.
Or, mats of blue or green pond scum might be floating on the water surface accumulate along the shoreline.
When the blooms are large enough to be categorized as widespread, they can affect either the entire lake, a large portion of the lake, or most to all of the shoreline.
"Prospect Park's Lake, waterfalls and other water features are fed by the city water supply. Phosphates in the water, which make it safe for us to drink, lead to excessive algae growth.
Prospect Park Alliance has begun construction of natural filtration system, known as an ecoWEIR, to reduce toxic blue-green algae blooms and improve the water quality of the park's waterways. "
"Prospect Park Alliance Tackles Toxic Algae Bloom"Every summer, Prospect Park Lake and other bodies of water in New York State are monitored for blooms weekly. Bear in mind, however, that some bodies of water with HABs might not have been reported to the DEC, so people and animals should avoid contact with all floating mats, scum, and discolored water.
Adults, children, dogs, and other animals should not go into the lake or near the shoreline. Anyone who has been in contact with a HAB should rinse thoroughly with soap and water--or just with clean water, if that's all that's available at the moment.
Anyone who might have been exposed to a bloom and is experiencing any symptoms should get medical help immediately and should also contact the New York City Department of Health (DOH).
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.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says
- If your animal gets in water with a bloom, immediately wash it off with clean water. Do not let the animal lick cyanobacteria off of its fur.
- Call a veterinarian if your animal shows any of these symptoms of cyanobacteria poisoning: loss of energy, loss of appetite, vomiting, stumbling and falling, foaming at the mouth, diarrhea, convulsions, excessive drooling, tremors and seizures, or any unexplained sickness that occurs within a day or so after being in contact with water.