Are algae blooms a problem on Conesus Lake?
Many types of algae are naturally present in all parts of the environment, including lakes like Conesus. Blue-green algae (scientific name, cyanobacteria) include many different species considered essential to natural biological and chemical processes that occur in water bodies. Some types of blue-green algae can naturally contain toxins. When these species of algae die, the toxins are released into the local environment. Usually, when small numbers of algae cells die, the concentration of the toxin is too low to cause any adverse health effects. Under the right conditions, blue-green algae can multiply rapidly forming a bloom. Blooms are noticed as large areas of concentrated algae, looking like green pea soup or spilled turquoise paint. If a large amount of the algae present in a bloom dies at the same time, higher concentrations of toxins may be present and which may become a public and animal health concern. Conesus Lake has been monitored for algae blooms over the past few years.
