Harmful Algal Blooms Reported in the Adirondacks; Season Lasts Until Early November

The latest run of sunny, warm weather has had an impact on harmful algal blooms, also knowns as HABs. 

The Watertown Daily Times reports that several algal blooms have already been reported in the Tri-Lakes area.

The blooms are visible patches of toxic cyanobacteria, also called blue-green algae, and they’re dangerous to people and pets. They’re most common from September to early November; that's the traditional season for algal blooms in Northern New York. 

The algal blooms are visible to the eye, so avoiding them is pretty simple. If you see what looks like green streaks of oil on the surface of water, don’t swim in it.

The Adirondack Watershed Institute has pictures of what the algal blooms look like on their website, as well as common lookalikes. Check out those photos here. 

Scientists say that if you come into contact with an algal bloom, to wash with soap and water. 

This article was originally published on NCPR.