As we head into the Labor Day weekend LCC monitors are reporting both clear water and cyanobacteria blooms. While there are many beaches open and safe for swimming, we have received reports of blooms in Bulwagga Bay, Maquam Shore, St. Albans Bay, Missisquoi Bay, Lake Carmi, Shelburne Pond and Ticklenaked Pond. 

Lake Champlain Committee (LCC) cyanobacteria monitors mainly reported good conditions this week. The exceptions so far are low alerts from Monday August 21 at Philipsburg Quebec. The Quebec reports were from research sites that are monitored every two weeks so conditions may change well before the tracker gets updated with the next report. The other low alert came from Ticklenaked Pond in Ryegate in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. There was also a report of an unusual cyanobacteria on Lake Morey in Fairlee, Vermont. Scroll down to see a picture of Rivularia spp. and learn more. 

While blooms witnessed on Lake Champlain were restricted to Missisquoi Bay (one location) and St. Albans Bay (four sites), we are still at the peak bloom period for our region. Spring and summer rains have flushed lots of nutrients into the water and temperatures are predicted to rise through the beginning of next week.

This week there were mixed conditions reported on Lake Champlain but only one report of a bloom at Vermont inland lakes (low alert at Ticklenaked Pond) that participate in the monitoring program. While blooms witnessed on Lake Champlain were restricted to Missisquoi Bay (one location), St. Albans Bay (four sites), Inland Sea (two sites) and the northern part of the lake (one location), we are in the middle of what is generally the peak bloom period for our region.

cyanobacteria monitors filed a record 171 reports this week from Lake Champlain and inland lake locations. Most sections of Lake Champlain experienced mixed conditions with both low and high alert blooms for at least some sites. The exceptions were Malletts Bay and the South Lake which reported generally good conditions at all sites but had fewer reports overall. Conditions can change rapidly and blooms can show up anywhere on the lake. Please be watchful, report anything of concern and avoid cyanobacteria.