MakingWaves - News from the Division of Water

This Week's Updates:

• DEC and DOH Announce New "Know Your NY Water" Website to Increase Public Awareness About Water Resources
• NY Sea Grant and DEC Award $200,155 to Nine Great Lakes Action Agenda Projects
• Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Notifications

DEC and DOH Announce New "Know Your NY Water" Website to Increase Public Awareness About Water Resources

DEC and the New York State Department of Health (DOH) have launched a new website, Know Your NY Water, created as part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's statewide Water Quality Rapid Response Team efforts, established in 2016. The website will provide New Yorkers with information about the state's public drinking water and the health of New York's abundant lakes, rivers, and streams, as well as waters used for recreation and habitat protection. For more information, view DEC's August 2 press release.

NY Sea Grant and DEC Award $200,155 to Nine Great Lakes Action Agenda Projects

DEC, in partnership with New York Sea Grant, has announced more than $200,000 grant awards for nine community-based projects through the Great Lakes Basin Small Grants Program to enhance community, ecological, and economic resiliency throughout the Great Lakes watershed. Funding comes from the state Environmental Protection Fund's Ocean and Great Lakes Ecosystem Conservation Program and supports the application of ecosystem-based management to complex environmental problems in order to conserve, protect, and enhance irreplaceable Great Lakes natural resources. For more information, including a description of awarded projects, view DEC's August 2 press release.

Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Notifications

Visit NYHABS, DEC’s harmful algal bloom notification map, to view locations of current freshwater HABs in New York State. Each yellow dot on the map represents a HAB reported in the past two weeks. Click on a dot for more information, including the date it was reported, the waterbody name, and pictures. Click on the arrow at the bottom of the screen to view a list of reported HABs.

Know it. Avoid it. Report it.

If you see a HAB, please use the new reporting form to submit a report to NYHABS. Because waterbodies may have HABs that have not been reported to DEC, we recommend avoiding contact with floating mats, scums and discolored water.

If you, your family, or pet have been in contact with a HAB, please rinse with clean water and report any symptoms to your local health department.