Suspected algae bloom reported on Lake Mirimichi

PLAINVILLE -- Out of an abundance of caution, the town's health department this week is continuing to advise people with access to Lake Mirimichi to refrain from recreational activities in and on the water for now, and to keep their pets out of it, too, because of a suspected harmful algae bloom.

Health agent Kelly Pawluczonek on Tuesday said with the temperatures remaining high during this week's heat wave, there were "no real changes" to report on the conditions at the 170-acre reservoir on the east side of town -- the lake mostly lies within Plainville, but a portion of it crosses over the town border and is shared with Foxborough.

"We're monitoring the situation," she said, speaking over the phone Tuesday afternoon.

While there is no formal order to stay out of and off the water, Pawluczonek said it is highly recommended. She said some good rain should help clear things up.

The health board was notified of the suspected harmful algae bloom being present on Lake Mirimichi last weekend by officials in Foxborough, Pawluczonek said, after the Foxborough health agent conducted an inspection of the waters, including a couple of areas of the lake within Plainville.

Most of the shoreline of Lake Mirimichi is privately and there are no town-operated swimming areas, but there is access for small boats and people who like to go fishing along a stretch of Mirimichi Street.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, so-called Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) "are the rapid growth of algae that can cause harm to animals, people, or the local ecology." They are naturally occurring, but can be exacerbated by abundant nutrients -- often from septic systems and fertilizers -- in tandem with high water temperatures, and in some cases they can take over an entire pond system.

A HAB, according to the CDC, "can look like foam, scum, or mats on the surface of water and can be different colors."

To read more about HABS, visit https://www.cdc.gov/habs/index.html

A request for more details from the Foxborough health office was still pending at press time. Visit  wickedlocal.com/plainville and wickedlocal.com/foxborough for any updates.