Blue-green Algae Conditions on Lake Champlain

Conditions Week Fifteen- 09/19/2014 - 09/26/2014

LCC received about 40 blue-green algae monitoring reports this week. All but two report noted conditions free of blue-green algae blooms. One bloom report came from Button Bay on 9/24 where low alert conditions were observed, but it was clear the next day. The second came from Point Bay Marina on 9/25 which is not a regular monitoring site. The weekend weather forecast is for sunny skies, warm temperatures and calm winds. Blue-green algae are still present throughout Lake Champlain, and these conditions may encourage the formation of surface scums. Anyone active on the water or shoreline should watch for changing conditions.

Conditions Week Fourteen - 09/13/2014 - 09/18/2014

While blooms around the lake have largely broken apart, a few were noted in the southern part of the Main Lake. There were no algae bloom observations in the three reports from Missisquoi Bay and one from St. Albans Bay that we received this week. There were no reports of algae blooms from the central Main Lake (14 reports), north Main Lake (5), the Inland Sea (6), or Mallets Bay (1). There were no monitor reports from the South Lake. In the southern Main Lake we received 8 reports and two indicated the presence of blue-green algae. On 9/17 there was a high alert from Kingsland Bay State Park. The bloom was in the inner bay, not near the swimming area and was gone by the next day. On 9/17 we also received two reports from the same site on Button Bay. The first report indicated no blue green algae present at 11:50 but by 1:45 the area had a low alert. Conditions can change rapidly.

Conditions Week Thirteen - 09/06-09/12/2014

Blue-green algae blooms continue to persist in Missisquoi and St. Albans Bays, but most of the rest of the lake is considered generally safe.

The bloom in Missisquoi Bay seems to be dying back. Monitors did not report any blooms this week. Water quality samples collected by the VT Dept. of Env. Conservation (VT DEC) and the LCC monitor at Shipyard had low amounts of blue-green algae and very low amounts of toxins. 

In St. Albans Bay, high alert conditions were reported again from Bay Park and the northern portion of the bay early in the week. VT DEC also noted low alert conditions at the Hathaway Point boat launch. Further out in the bay however, the water appeared clear.

There were no reports of algae blooms from the central Main Lake, the southern Main Lake, Mallets Bay, or the South Lake. Most reports from the Inland Sea were of generally safe conditions, but there was a low alert from Pelots Bay again. In the area of the Main Lake north of the Cumberland Head ferry, the low alert at Deep Bay in Pt. Au Roche continued though monitors indicate that the extent of the algae continues to shrink. 

Conditions Week Twelve - 8/30 - 9/5/2014

Blue green algae blooms continue to persist in Missisquoi and St. Albans Bays, but most of the rest of the lake is considered generally safe.

In Missisquoi Bay we received a category 3 report from Philipsburg, Quebec, and category 2 low alerts from Highgate-Shipyard and Alburgh Springs. North of the border, Quebec officials noted mixed conditions ranging from visible blue-green algae in the water to surface scums.

Conditions varied across St. Albans Bay through the week. Bay Park and the City Docks varied between low alert (9/1) and high alert (9/3). Georgia Beach had a high alert on 9/1 but south of there, along the shore monitors reported good conditions. Ferrand Rd. saw a high alert on 9/1 but clear conditions on 9/3.

In other parts of the lake, there were no reports of algae blooms from Mallets Bay or the South Lake. Most reports from the Inland Sea were of generally safe conditions, but there was a low alert from Pelots Bay again. In the area of the Main Lake north of the Cumberland Head ferry, the low alert at Deep Bay in Pt. Au Roche continued and we also had a low alert from the west shore of Pelots Point. All monitors reported good conditions in the central Main Lake. In the southern Main Lake Button Bay again saw a low alert early in the week that had cleared by later in the week. 

Conditions Week Eleven - 8/17 - 8/29/2014

Again, conditions around the lake varied dramatically.

Blue-green algae blooms continue to persist in the shallow northeastern bays – Missisquoi and St. Albans, but even within these bays conditions varied. In Missisquoi Bay we received a category 3 report from Highgate Springs (with a note that it looked much better later in the week), a category 2 low alert from Donaldson Point, and reports of clear conditions in the western part of the bay. Vermont and Quebec officials also noted high alerts for the Philipsburg area north of the border on August 26. In St. Albans Bay, we received category 3-high alerts from St. Albans Bay Park and Ferrand Rd. on August 25, but reports of clear conditions from Georgia Shore and Kill Kare State Park.

There were no reports of algae blooms from Mallets Bay or the South Lake. Most reports from the Inland Sea were of generally safe conditions, but there was a low alert from Pelots Bay. In the area of the Main Lake north of the Cumberland Head ferry, the only report of blue-green algae was a low alert from Deep Bay in Pt. Au Roche. All monitors reported good conditions in the central Main Lake. In the southern Main Lake a low alert came in from Button Bay once again this week, but it had cleared later in the week. 

Conditions Week Ten - 8/16 - 8/22/2014

Again, conditions around the lake varied dramatically. 

Blue green algae blooms continue to persist in the shallow northeastern bays – Missisquoi and St. Albans. In Missisquoi Bay, category 3-high alert conditions were reported from the Quebec portion of the Bay, while Shipyard reported a category 2 – low alert, though DEC samples in the area reported large amounts of potentially toxic species. In St. Albans Bay, a category 3 bloom developed along Georgia Shore while reports from Bay Park and Ferrand Road dropped down to category 2. Kill Kare State Park reported no blooms and DEC reported low levels of algae at the Hathaway Point Boat Launch.

In the area of the Main Lake north of the Cumberland Head ferry, three of the 11 monitoring sites reported low alerts while the other sites were generally safe.

The only other report of blue-green algae was a low alert report from Button Bay in the southern part of the Main Lake, but that had cleared by the next day.

Conditions Week Nine - 8/9 - 8/15/2014

Unfortunately, blue-green algae blooms have continued in the northeastern bays. In Missisquoi Bay, category 3-high alert conditions were reported from the Quebec portion of the bay, and the Shipyard in Highgate Springs. In addition, there was a significant bloom in the Rock River at the St. Armand Bridge . The western portion of the bay remains free from blooms so far. In St. Albans Bay, the category 3 bloom persisted in Bay Park. Category 3 conditions were also observed at the Hathaway Point Boat Launch and the eastern shore at Ferrand Road. Conditions were clear but variable at Kamp Killkare State Park and clear along the Georgia shore.

Blooms also developed in the southern portion of the Main Lake at Port Henry. The New York State Department of Health sampled both Port Henry and Moriah beaches after the Port Henry Beach was closed last weekend as a precaution. Results from Port Henry were acceptable levels and the beach re-opened, but conditions at Moriah beach were still suspect on Monday August 11. Also in the southern Main Lake, a category 2-low alert event was reported in Button Bay on August 12, but it cleared later in the week.

Our monitor at Pt. Au Roche State Park indicated the presence of a category-2 bloom in the Deep Bay portion of the park. Blue-green algae covered an area of approximately 200 square feet. The swimming beach at the park was not affected.

There were no reports of blue-green algae from the Inland Sea (outside St. Albans Bay), the South Lake, Mallets Bay, or other portions of the Main Lake.

Conditions Week Eight - 8/3-8/8/2014

LCC received reports from over 75 different sites around the lake. Blue green algae blooms have begun developing on Lake Champlain particularly in the shallow northeastern bays – Missisquoi and St. Albans. In Missisquoi Bay, category 3-high alert conditions have been reported from the Quebec portion of the bay. Areas to the south and west have been free of blooms so far. There were some algae at monitoring sites in the southeastern part of the bay, but below bloom conditions. In St. Albans Bay, a persistent category 3 bloom has developed in the northern portion near the City Docks. Conditions in the rest of the bay are more variable with a category 3 reported at the Hathaway Point boat launch and a borderline 2/3 in the vicinity of Burton Island, but generally clear conditions in other parts of the outer bay.

 Most other sections of the lake have been generally safe. No algae were reported for the northern Main Lake, the central Main Lake, or Mallets Bay. However, very small category 2 outbreaks were reported in the southern portion of the Main Lake one in Ferrisburgh and one in Panton. The Ferrisburgh site cleared up the next day.

 Now is prime time for cyanobacteria blooms to occur. Conditions can change rapidly. Periods of calm hot weather exacerbate bloom conditions, and they can appear anywhere. The most recent information is available at the interactive map maintained by the Vermont Department of Health, but that may not reflect the actual conditions you encounter. Anyone active on the water or shoreline should watch for and avoid any accumulations of blue-green algae.

Conditions Week Seven- 7/26-8/1/2014
LCC received reports from over 75 different sites around the lake. Most areas of the lake were considered generally safe. We received one report of blue-green algae conditions beyond category 1. That report, a category 2 with some blue-green algae present, came from the east shore of St. Albans Bay on 7/29. A few other reports of 1d (a little blue green algae but recreation not impaired) came from the northeastern bays (St. Albans, Missisquoi, and Maquam). The Quebec Ministry of the Environment reported high levels of blue-green algae in northern Missisquoi Bay including Venise, Philipsburg, and north of Philipsburg. Anyone active on the water or along these shoreline areas should be alert for changing conditions and avoid contact with cyanobacteria blooms.

Conditions Week Six - 7/19-7/25/2014
No monitors reported algae blooms this week. However, near the end of the week Vermont DEC did report blooms developing in Missisquoi Bay. Large amounts of blue-green algae were at the RT 78 Fish and Wildlife Access (low alert) and just north of Phillipsburg (high alert). Be alert for changing conditions and avoid blooms. 

Conditions Week Five - 7/12-7/18/2014
LCC received 96 reports from over 70 different sites around the lake. We had a low level alert from our monitor at North Harbor in the Ferrisburgh area on July 14 but the algae had dissipated by July 17. That location and all other areas we monitor on Lake Champlain were considered generally safe by the end of the week. There were no reports of blooms from other LCC monitors or from our partners at the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation.

Conditions Week Four - 7/4-7/11/2014
LCC received reports from over 75 different sites around the lake. No monitors reported algae blooms, and there were no reports of blooms from LCC's partners at the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation.

Conditions Week Three - 6/28-7/3/2014
LCC received reports from over 70 different sites around the lake. There was a category 2 low alert in Westport, NY last weekend but by Sunday June 29 conditions had cleared. No other sites on the lake reported blue-green algae blooms. There were no reports of blooms from LCC's partners at the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation.

Conditions Week Two - 6/21-6/27/2014
LCC received reports from over 65 different sites around the lake. From most of the lake there were no reports of algae blooms. A supplemental report from Cole’s Bay in Westport, NY indicated a category 2 condition – some blue-green algae present; recreation somewhat impaired. In addition, a Vermont Department of Health employee reported a category 2 condition from Arnold Bay in Panton, VT. There were no reports of blooms from LCC's partners at the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. 

Conditions Week One - 6/16-6/20/2014
LCC received reports from over 65 different sites with no reports of algae blooms from any of our monitors. There were also no reports of blooms from LCC's partners at the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation.