Dangerous algae “blooms” in Albany lakes

ALBANY, N.Y. ( NEWS10 ) -If you take a walk in Albany’s Washington or Buckingham parks, you may come across lakes covered in harmful algal blooms (HABs). The Albany Water Commissioner says even though it may look like regular algae, this is much more dangerous. “For any of our residents and pets simply because they’re not really algae. They’re actually a bacteria,” stated Joe Coffey. “They’re a cyanobacteria.”

The Department of Environmental Conservation says a combination of calm winds, warm weather, and phosphorous creates the bloom. HABs produce toxins that affect people and can even be deadly to animals according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Signs by the lakes warn against swimming and fishing when the water has floating clumps or streaks of bacteria. NEWS10’s Anthony Krolikowski still found a few people spending a late afternoon by the water’s edge fishing.

“I know it’s nasty. You can’t eat the fish out of it, that I know. But this water was horribly green about four days ago from one end to the other. It was like grass. You could walk on it almost,” said Jim Calhoun.

Even if parts of the water seem like they have no harmful algae, Coffey says it’s still not safe. HABs could be hiding just below the surface. The Albany Water Department says these algal blooms should clear up after a period of cool weather. They recommend staying out of still bodies of water.

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