A week after harmful algal blooms were discovered in two Cayuga County lakes, Onondaga County is now facing a similar issue.
The county's health department announced Monday that both Gillie Lake in Camillus and Jamesville Beach in Lafayette are closed for swimming due to "visual presence of an algal bloom."
The health department says the beaches will not be reopened until they are "visually free" of algae for a day, and water sampling confirms there are not toxins in the lake. The parks are still open for non-swimming activities.
The health department recommends anyone in or near waters to take precautions when it comes to algal blooms:
- Do not boat, fish or swim near blooms
- Don't eat fish caught from waters with blooms
- Don't drink the water
- Don't let animals or children come in contact with blooms
- If exposed, rinse with clean water
If you see a bloom in water, you're encouraged to report it to the New York State Department of Conservation's algal bloom notification website.