News from the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation sent this bulletin on 08/21/2015 04:30 PM EDT
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
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DEC and DOS Announce $9.4 Million for Flooding and Resiliency Projects in the Mohawk Valley

DEC and the Department of State have announced that the state will provide $9.4 million for flood resiliency and reconstruction projects in Oneida, Herkimer and Montgomery counties.
These projects are in response to the 2013 flooding of the Mohawk River in Oneida, Herkimer and Montgomery counties and will make Mohawk Valley communities more resilient and better equipped to mitigate the risks of loss and damage associated with future flooding.
DEC will also install a water quality monitoring station on the Mohawk River at Ilion and develop strategies to restore water quality in the Utica portion of the river.
For the list of specific projects, see DEC's August 20 press release.

Blue-Green Algal Bloom Notices

New information about lakes with blue-green algae bloom notices has been posted today, August 21, on the DEC Blue-Green Algal Bloom Notices webpage.

This week, 13 waterbodies were added to the notification list, and blooms were reported in several locations in the state. This information is provided from about 201 waterbodies sampled in the last two to three weeks through DEC monitoring programs, volunteers and public reports.

Because waterbodies may have blue-green algae blooms that have not been reported to DEC, we recommend avoiding contact with floating rafts, scums and discolored water—If  you see it, avoid it and report it!

Why are some lakes always on the list?

Blue-green algae blooms may be short-lived (appear and disappear in hours) or long-lasting (persisting for several weeks). The lakes that are "always" on the list may be experiencing multiple blooms or have a persistent bloom. These lakes may be more susceptible to blue-green algae blooms because of high nutrient levels in the lake or the lake's physical and land use characteristics.

Some lakes also regularly show up on the notification list due to very active surveillance and a heightened awareness by lake residents.

Report a suspected bloom

If you suspect you have seen a blue-green algae bloom, or you, your family, or pet has been in contact with a blue-green algae bloom, please follow the instructions for reporting a bloom to DEC.