NY health department warns of harmful algae blooms

ALGAE BLOOMS POPPING UP ON AREA WATERWAYS. VERMONT'S AGREED TO A 20-YEAR EFFORT WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY -- TO SHARPLY REDUCE PHOSPHORUS POLLUTION. THE NUTRIENT FROM FERTILIZERS AND OTHER SOURCES THAT TRIGGERS UNCONTROLLED ALGAE AND WEED GROWTH. TODAY -- STATE AUDITOR DOUG HOFFER RELEASED A NEW REPORT QUESTIONING HOW SOME OF FIRST MILLIONS IN GRANTS HAS BEEN SPENT. WHILE THE LAW REQUIRED THE FUNDING BE AWARDED WHERE IT WOULD MAKE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IN PHOSPHORUS REDUCTIONS -- HE SAID IT DIDN'T WORK OUT THAT WAY. SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS GOT FUNDING WHILE AGRICULTURE - THE #1 SOURCE -- GOT LITTLE. HOFFER: TC844 WASTEWATER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 4% -- DEC ESTIMATES SAY IT'S 4% OF ALL PHOSOPHORUS. WHY DID WE SPEND 34% OF ALL THE MONEY ON WASTEWATER. THAT'S THE QUESTION. 8:55 HOFFER: 1025 THOSE INVESTMENTS ARE NOT BAD... A WASTEWATER TREAMENT FACILITY IS A GOOD THING. AN UPGRADE IS GOOD. BUT NOT THE BIG BANG FOR THE BUCK. NO. 1034 IN A STATEMENT, THE STATE D-E-C SAID THEY'RE SEE IT AS AN "ALL-IN" APPROACH -- FUNDING EXPENSIVE PROJECTS LIKE WASTEWATER AND STORMWATER, AND MORE COST EFFECTIVE ONES. THEY SAID THEY APPRECIATE THE REPORT AND WILL IMPROVE IN THEIR ABILITY TO ACCOUNT FOR POLLUTION REDUCTION."

Officials with the Clinton County Health Department say a harmful algae bloom has been spotted near Point Au Roche State Park.In a statement released Thursday afternoon, the department reported the blooms were discovered near the Deep Bay boat launch area on the south side of the state park. Officials are urging area residents to avoid the area and to ensure pets are not exposed to the harmful algae blooms. This comes just two months after other algae blooms were responsible for the deaths of two dogs in a Vermont lake. Along with their statement, the health department provided a guide to identifying harmful algae blooms. "A harmful algae bloom can look like foam, scum, or mats on the surface of the water and can be different colors," the guide reads. "They can occur in warm fresh or marine waters with abundant nutrients and are becoming more frequent with climate change. Additional details on exposure risk, symptoms of illness and more can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

POINT AU ROCHE, N.Y. —

Officials with the Clinton County Health Department say a harmful algae bloom has been spotted near Point Au Roche State Park.

In a statement released Thursday afternoon, the department reported the blooms were discovered near the Deep Bay boat launch area on the south side of the state park.

Officials are urging area residents to avoid the area and to ensure pets are not exposed to the harmful algae blooms. This comes just two months after other algae blooms were responsible for the deaths of two dogs in a Vermont lake.

Along with their statement, the health department provided a guide to identifying harmful algae blooms.

"A harmful algae bloom can look like foam, scum, or mats on the surface of the water and can be different colors," the guide reads. "They can occur in warm fresh or marine waters with abundant nutrients and are becoming more frequent with climate change.

Additional details on exposure risk, symptoms of illness and more can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

NY health department warns of harmful algae blooms

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