Making Waves

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation sent this bulletin on 08/28/2015 04:34 PM EDT
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
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 What's New in the Division of Water?

 

Data Solicitation for 2016 CWA Section 303(d) List

As part of the development of the 2016 New York State Section 303(d) List of Impaired/TMDL Waters, the public is invited to provide existing and readily available water quality data and information.  This data solicitation period began and was announced in the spring and will close on September 30, 2015.  NYSDEC will then compile a Draft Section 303 (d) List, which will be made available for public review and comment in January 2016.  States are required to submit their next Section 303(d) Lists to USEPA by April 1, 2016.  Additional information regarding the 2016 Section 303(d) List process can be found on the NYSDEC website.

Blue-Green Algal Bloom Notices

New information about lakes with blue-green algae bloom notices has been posted today, August 28, on the DEC Blue-Green Algal Bloom Notices webpage.

This week, 19 waterbodies were added to the notification list, and blooms were reported in several locations in the state. This information is provided from about 204 waterbodies sampled in the last four to five 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!

How many lakes have been sampled by DEC monitoring programs this year?

DEC’s monitoring programs, Lake Classification and Inventory Survey (LCI) and Citizens Statewide Lake Assessment Program (CSLAP), have collected water quality data, including information about blue-green algae blooms at 175 waterbodies so far this year. The complete list of lakes sampled by these programs is posted on the Blue-green Algal Bloom Notice web page and is updated weekly.


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.