County Continues To Monitor Algae Bloom In Chautauqua Lake


MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County is working with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to attack and eliminate harmful algae blooms on Chautauqua Lake, according to Chautauqua County Executive George Borrello.
Borrello told WNYNewsNow that the summer heat helps feed the lake’s blooms, which are also fed by the lake’s already high content of phosferous and nitrogen.
“We’re starting to get to that point in the summer where you’re going to see more of these as you get into the heat of August and the county has always been focused on  reducing the man-made flow of nutrients into Chautauqua Lake,” Borrello said.
“The county, the health department is watching closely, we’ve had a couple of reports  and we’ve already sent out press releases on harmful algal blooms,” he said. “You want to, obviously, stay out of the water, (and) keep your pets out of the water where those harmful algal blooms occur.”
The county has been working with the DEC to implement an action plan to combat the blooms, Borrello said.
“We just put together an action plan with the Department of Environmental Conservation, the state DEC,” he said. “The state’s DEC plans to draw-down some money from the state to help address this harmful alga bloom issue.”