News

Special Contribution: Exploring Watershed Hiking Trails

Watershed Hiking Trails by Doug Llewellyn 

This is the third in a series of Outreach and Education Committee articles that focuses on Lake-Friendly Living. Whereas the first two articles offered suggestions on ways to keep our watershed in a healthy state, this one takes a different slant and is predicated on a quote from E. B. White, author of Charlotte’s Web – “I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve (or save) the world and a desire to enjoy (or savor) the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.”

So, let’s temporarily depart from the approaches to protect our watershed and turn to ways to enjoy our watershed – specifically getting out during the crisp, robust upcoming fall days and taking a hike on one of the many easy to moderate hiking trails within the Canandaigua Lake watershed – namely, Atwater Meadows, the Upland Trail at Onanda Park, the Vista, and Grimes Glen. 

Atwater Meadows is an 18-acre wooded, undeveloped park on the north end of Canandaigua Lake at 767 West Lake Drive, just south of Yacht Club Cove. At the end of the gently-sloped footpath there’s a small lake-front beach area that offers a picturesque view of Skenoh Island (previously named Squaw Island). According to legend, the wives and children of the Seneca took refuge on the small island during the invasion of their homeland by General John Sullivan in 1779.The renamed island “skenoh” can be translated to either health or peace. 

Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. 

 

Upland Trail at Onanda Park at 4965 West Lake Road is a 1½ to 2-mile loop trail generally considered a moderately challenging route. It takes an average of 45-60 minutes to complete the loop and is a popular trail for hiking, bird watching, and identifying local woodland plants. The Uplands consists of seventy-three acres of hillside including a path through pristine wilderness with scenic views of Barnes Creek, as well as Canandaigua Lake. Sturdy footwear and hiking poles may be needed for the less experienced hiker. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.

Check out www.townofcanandaigua.org for more trail information and a site map.

 

Canandaigua Vista – Finger Lakes Land Trust Trail is located down Jones Road at the corner of Route 21 and Seneca Point Road, just south of Cheshire. The vista is 90 acres of mature forests and open meadows with expansive views of Barnes Gully and Canandaigua Lake. A visitors’ booth at the entrance of the park will show the vista’s trail and best viewing locations. Similar to Ononda Park, it takes an average of 45-60 minutes to complete the loop and is a popular trail for hiking, bird watching, and identifying native woodland plants. The trail is mostly flat.   

Be aware that during the hunting season, from October 1 to December 17, bow hunters will be hunting on the preserve in locations that are at least 150 feet from the marked hiking trail, and the trail will remain open to the public during that time. Hikers must stay on the marked hiking trail at all times. Hunters will be allowed to hunt with a bow only. For that reason, a hike through the Vista Park would be best during the spring and summer months. Check out www.fllt.org/canandaiguavista for more information.

 

Grimes Glen is located at the south end of the watershed in the Village of Naples. From Main Street/Route 21 (heading south), take a right turn at Vine Street. A sign shows the road entrance to the park. Take Vine Street to the end where a parking lot and the park entrance is located.

According to the NY Falls website, Grimes Glen is a 1½ mile trail where visitors can experience the sights and sounds of bubbling cascades, crystal clear pools, and spectacular waterfalls, all framed by majestic hemlock trees, bountiful springtime red and yellow trilliums, and various native wildflowers. Shale bluffs tower up to 200 feet overhead. Grimes Glen is a classic Finger Lakes gorge, a continuously changing and fragile environment shaped and reshaped over time by the power of water. For that reason, check the entrance booth to see which waterfall trails are safe and open to the public. For a stunning view, visit the park in the early spring when the winter’s snow begins to melt and fill the creek with strong currents. 

See https://nyfalls.com/waterfalls/grimes-glen/ for more information.

 

These are just four of the many woodland trails and waterfall parks located within our watershed. For a more rigorous venture, hikers may want to also check out Bare Hill and Conklin Gully (both on the southeast side of the lake), as well as High Tor Wildlife Management Area (at the south end of the watershed).  

Posted in Lake Friendly Living

Water Quality Update for October 28, 2024

Today, we received several reports of late-season cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs). This includes five reports from our dedicated volunteers and two additional reports from concerned members of the public. With these latest sightings, we have surpassed the latest recorded bloom date of October 26th (in 2023).

Volunteers participating in a research project with SUNY ESF have identified that the samples, viewed under a microscope, primarily consist of Dolichospermum, a genus of cyanobacteria known to produce various toxins. This finding highlights the critical importance of our ongoing monitoring and reporting efforts.

As always, we urge people and pets to exercise caution around the water, especially if it appears discolored or has a surface scum.

This has been a discouraging season, but we are deeply grateful to our dedicated volunteers for their commitment to monitoring and reporting. Interested in joining us next year? Complete the form, and we’ll be sure to reach out about next year’s training: https://forms.gle/C76gg3QznSWp3DuB7
Posted in Water Quality Updates

Water Quality Update for October 21, 2024

While the recent milder temperatures and beautiful fall weather have been a real treat, they’ve also brought a few more cyanoHAB reports. This afternoon, three of our dedicated volunteers reported surface streaking – two on the east side and one on the west side of Canandaigua Lake.

Please continue to keep an eye out for any signs of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms.

As a reminder, cyanoHABs reports from across the state can be viewed by visiting the NYHABs portal on the DEC website: https://nysdec.maps.arcgis.com/…/webappvi…/index.html…

 

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Posted in Water Quality Updates

Water Quality Update for Friday October 4, 2024

Lake conditions have generally been improving over the last week, with fewer reported blooms. The blooms that have been reported have been more localized. Today, we received a cyanoHAB report from Vine Valley and the volunteer from that region collected a sample for further analysis. All other reports submitted today have indicated no visible signs of blooms.

The official volunteer CyanoHABs monitoring program concluded yesterday, October 3rd, and this is our last official Friday Water Quality Update of the season. However, we still have many engaged volunteers who will continue to keep eyes on the lake and report conditions, so information can continue to be accessed via the interactive map on the CLWA website or our Facebook page.

In years past, we have seen blooms pop up well into October. In 2023, our last reported bloom was on October 26th! This reminds us that we need to remain vigilant – lake conditions can change quickly.

It’s important to remember that the cyanoHABs issue isn’t just unique to Canandaigua Lake. This has been one of the most intense cyanoHABs seasons on record for our Finger Lakes region, and other lakes around the county are also experiencing an uptick in blooms. Even Lake Superior—the deepest and coldest of the Great Lakes—has been affected by algal blooms for the first time in history, as highlighted in this recent article: Climate change is causing algal blooms in Lake Superior for the first time.

We want to thank you for staying engaged, spreading awareness, and supporting the many volunteers who contribute to these efforts. CLWA is stronger because of community involvement, and we need that support to continue beyond bloom season. Keeping the impacts of HABs at the forefront with state agencies, elected officials, municipalities, and all our lake stakeholders is vital for identifying and implementing long-term solutions.

As the bloom season winds down, we will be receiving more of our sample results and will be putting together a season-end report for the community. Stay tuned!

Posted in Water Quality Updates

Water Quality Update for Friday, September 27th 2024

IN THIS REPORT:

  • Recap of September Blooms
  • Using Remote Sensing to Monitor for cyanoHABs in Canandaigua Lake
  • CyanoHABs in the News
  • Information for Private Drinking Water System Users
As September comes to a close, it has certainly been a notable month for water quality. In last week’s report, we highlighted the severity of the harmful algal blooms (HABs) affecting Canandaigua Lake and other Finger Lakes. The image below, taken the afternoon of Friday 9/20 from the lake’s north end, shows just how extensive the blooms have been, even in open water areas.

Canandaigua Lake experienced an unprecedented 14 consecutive days of cyanoHABs, from September 10th through September 23rd—marking the longest documented stretch of bloom activity since cyanoHABs monitoring efforts began in 2015. Fortunately, cooler temperatures and a few rainy days have brought some relief this week, with only two small localized blooms reported on 9/26. However, some years we have seen blooms well into October, so we urge you to continue using visual indicators before entering the water or letting pets swim. Identification photos can be found at the bottom of this email to help you recognize potential cyanoHABs.

A special thanks to Emily DeBolt for capturing this image.
We’d like to take a moment to recognize the outstanding efforts of our 77 volunteers who have worked tirelessly this summer to document the lake’s water quality. Their commitment is vital to advancing our understanding of these evolving water issues. Thanks to their work on the cyanoHABs and Secchi disk programs, 630 reports have been submitted thus far. As the Association Director, I want to personally thank each and every one of our volunteers for their invaluable contribution. These reports not only inform our local community but also provide crucial information to the Department of Health, municipal partners, water purveyors, state and local agencies, and the broader research community. The Watershed Council, consisting of the municipalities and its Watershed Manager Kevin Olvany, are also incredibly appreciative of all the volunteer reports coming in. Citizen scientists are the heart of this community, and these efforts will leave a lasting impact on the ongoing research.

As we head into October, the official CyanoHABs monitoring program will conclude on October 3rd, with our final scheduled water quality update going out on Friday, October 4th. Please note that many of our dedicated volunteers will continue to monitor and report beyond this date. If significant bloom events occur in October, you can always check the interactive map on the CLWA website or our Facebook page for the latest information.

If you’re interested in learning more about our research partnerships, check out the video below featuring Dr. Bahram Salehi from SUNY ESF. Last Friday, we captured this footage as drones flew over the lake, collecting multispectral imagery to train AI models for remote water quality monitoring. This is another great example of how volunteer data is helping advancing the science of cyanoHABs

Thank you for your continued vigilance and support.

Lindsay McMillan, CLWA Association Director
Remote Sensing to Monitor for CyanoHABs on Canandaigua Lake

On Friday, September 20th, 2024, CLWA had the opportunity to connect with Dr. Bahram Salehi, Associate Professor of Remote Sensing Engineering at SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF), and PhD Candidate Sina Jarahizadeh as they performed research on Canandaigua Lake. Learn more about their work to monitor lakes experiencing harmful algal blooms using a combination of multispectral and satellite imaging in the short video below.

 

CyanoHABs in the News: The Growing Severity of Harmful Algal Blooms in the Finger Lakes
The intensity of the blooms in Canandaigua Lake and surrounding Finger Lakes was covered heavily in the local media this past week. Check out the following highlights, in case you missed them.

Health expert warns of record-setting harmful algal blooms in Canandaigua Lake (13 WHAM News)

Harmful algal blooms on the rise in local lakes this summer (FL Times)

CyanoHABs remain a concern for lakes across Western NY (WROC TV)

Harmful algal blooms spread across nearly every Finger Lake (Democrat and Chronicle)
Information for Private Drinking Water System Users

Until recently, living on Canandaigua Lake and drinking its water, it was considered sufficient for a private water system to filter sediment and particles and have a method to kill microbes such as E.coli.

Today, homeowners must go a step farther to remove toxins such as blue-green algae and plasticizer chemicals. This requires considering updated water purification for potential contaminants.

Read this special contribution by Dr. Bruce Capron to see how some homeowners are approaching updates to their private drinking water systems.

Read the article here.
Posted in Water Quality Updates

Keeping Canandaigua Lake Clean: The Role of Sanitary and Storm Sewers in Water Quality

Special contribution by Doug Llewellyn

This is the second in a series of informative articles by the CLWA Outreach and Education Committee, designed to offer practical approaches to Lake-Friendly Living.

As watershed residents, we all share the responsibility of protecting the health of Canandaigua Lake for generations to come. One important step is understanding the difference between sanitary and storm sewers. When leaves, lawn clippings, and road litter wash into storm drains, they can degrade water quality. By knowing how these systems work, we can make informed decisions about what shouldn’t enter our sewers, creating a less harmful impact on our watershed.

A sanitary sewer has a full cover (often termed a “man-hole cover”) secured flat to its circular rim at the surface of the road. The purpose of the sanitary sewer is to move wastewater from residential and commercial properties to a treatment facility. However, there are several things to know before flushing objects down the toilet. You should never flush baby or hand wipes (even the flushable ones) down a toilet. These wipes do not easily disintegrate. They cause clogged drains and pipes, resulting in backups and costly repairs to the Town’s Public Works System. 

Other non-dissolvable products that should not be flushed down the drain or toilet includes diapers, feminine hygiene products, any greasy or oily food wastes, cotton swabs and plastic products, medications, cigarette butts, hair, gum, coffee grounds, egg shells, or dental floss. 

The storm drains, on the other hand, have a grate cover that acts like a screen to block large items (such as twigs and small tree branches) from draining down the opening. Storm sewers handle runoff from heavy rains, melting snow, and water from surrounding streets and driveways. Storm sewers move water through a network of channels from its drainage site to a natural body of water – usually a stream, river, retention pond, or lake. Since much of the untreated water from the storm sewers ends up in our lake, residents should pay particular attention to reduce or prevent what gets washed into the storm sewer.

Here are just a few suggestions to help our watershed surroundings:

  • Leave grass clippings on the lawn. Do not blow clippings into the street or curb. Consider creating a compost bin for cut grass and yard wastes.
  • Rather than raking leaves into the road, use your lawn mower to mulch leaves during the fall months. 
  • Eliminate or reduce the use of inorganic lawn fertilizers especially those high in phosphorus.  
  • Pick up litter and pet waste that you see on your property before it gets washed down the storm drain.
  • If you self-wash your car, wash it on your lawn instead of the driveway. Washing your car in the driveway allows soapy water (containing phosphates) as well as dirt, grease, oil, and road salt to flow into the storm drain. 

Now that we know more about sanitary and storm sewers, let’s all work together to become mindful of ways to help safeguard our treasured watershed and keep it healthy for our children, our grandchildren, and generations to come.

Posted in Lake Friendly Living Tagged with:

Special Contribution Article: Looking to purify lake water from cyanobacteria and PFAS? Consider these two options.

Looking to purify lake water from cyanobacteria and PFAS? Consider these two options. 

Special Contribution By Dr. Bruce Capron

Folks of a certain age remember pulling drinking water directly from the lake with nary a care. Most homeowners with private drinking water systems have since added UV lights and filters. 

New threats — cyanobacteria and PFAS chemicals — require homeowners to consider updated water purification. Chemical engineer and longtime South Bristol resident Dr. Bruce Capron defines these threats and suggests ways to help address them. 


Until recently, living on Canandaigua Lake and drinking its water, it was considered sufficient for a private water system to filter sediment and particles and have a method to kill microbes such as E.coli.  

Today, homeowners must go a step farther to remove toxins such as blue-green algae and plasticizer chemicals. This requires considering updated water purification for potential contaminants. 

What is the threat posed by blue-green algae?

Let’s look first at blue-green algae. Because they can cause illness to people and pets, CLWA volunteers monitor around the lake and CLWA disseminates bloom reports each summer. These algae are a group of photosynthetic bacteria called cyanobacteria.  Different species of these bacteria can produce cyanotoxins.  Different cyanotoxins can damage the liver (hepatotoxins), the nervous system (neurotoxins), or can impact the functioning of cells (cytotoxins).[1]  For freshwater, the most common cyanotoxins are microcystins (hepatotoxins) and anatoxins (neurotoxins). [2]

There have been over 250 microcystin identified.  The primary toxin identified and studied is Microcystin-LR.  This is a molecule of seven amino acids and has a molecular weight of 995 g/mole.  The size of this molecule has been estimated at 1.2nm to 2.6nm. [3]

Literature studies indicate the anatoxin are not as widespread as microcystins and do not pose the same level of risk. [4]  However, the anatoxin molecules have a molecular weight of 254 g/mole and are assumed to be smaller in size than the microcystin molecules. 

Although the size of cyanobacteria is in the range of 2 to 7 microns, the size of the cyanotoxin molecules found within these bacteria are more than 1000 times smaller (1 nanometer = 0.001 microns).  

Even though the bacteria can be captured by relatively large filter media (e.g., 1 micron filter), it is important to note that the cyanotoxin molecules can be released outside of the bacteria’s cell membrane in living bacterium or released when the cell membrane is broken when the bacterium dies or during a water treatment process.

Blue-green algae require nanofiltration.

General filtration with cartridges removes particles by forcing the water through a porous media (e.g., paper) where most particles of a larger size are prevented from passing through the filter media.  

This type of filtration is commonly used to remove sediment and other contaminants that are 1 micron or larger in size.  As noted above, the toxin molecules and molecules commonly associated with plastics are nearly 1000 times smaller.  Therefore, some form of nanofiltration is needed to remove these molecules.  

What chemicals associated with plastics are threats and how can they be removed? 

The news is often filled with the term “microplastics”.  These are small particles of various plastics found in everyday items.  Although the health risks of microplastics are under debate, a more serious concern are families of chemicals that are associated with plastics, food containers, cookware, and food packaging.  

Bisphenols: The most common bisphenol is BPA [5].  This is often used to make plastics harder and more durable.  The BPA molecule (C15H16O2) is weakly soluble in water and tends to form colloidal particles that are greater than 90nm in size.  Studies have shown that reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membranes are effective in removing BPA from water. [6]

PFAS: Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large family of Polyflouro alkayline chemicals.  Consumer Reports list some of the most common PFAS chemicals — PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and PTFE (Teflon). These are chemicals used as surface treatments for plastics, cloth, paper, cardboard, and metal. [7]   

The EPA indicates that both activated carbon filtration and reverse osmosis systems are effective in removing PFAS chemicals. [8] 

Phthalates: Phthalates are groups of chemicals used as plasticizers to make various plastics more flexible.  Certain phthalates have been shown to be endocrine disrupters.  One common phthalate is DEHP. (Consumer Reports, May 29, 2024).  DEHP has a chemical formula of C24H38O4 and a molecular weight of 390.5 g/mole.  

What home water treatment options can remove these chemicals?

Removing these chemicals from water requires some form of nanofiltration.  The two most common forms are the use of activated carbon filtration and reverse osmosis.

Activated Carbon Filtration: Granulated Activated Carbon (GAC filters are typically manufactured by heating wood or coconut husks to create millions of small pores with an extremely large surface area.  

A single gram of GAC material may have over 1000 square meters of surface area made containing small pores ranging from 0.5nm to 1000nm. [9]  These filters remove contaminants from water when a contaminant molecule prefers to “stick” to the carbon material rather than remain in solution in water.  This process is called adsorption.

For these filters to function, the water must spend sufficient time in the filter media for contaminant molecules to find an active site within the carbon matrix.  Also, the effectiveness of these filters decreases with use as active adsorption sites are filled with contaminant molecules.   

Activated carbon filters are commonly used in municipal water treatment facilities and many home systems.  The challenge for residents that use lake water is to determine what size filter to use, how often to change the filter, and what level of the contaminants being discussed in this article are removed.  (These questions might be answered if the text of the NSF 42 standard were available.)

Reverse Osmosis (RO): Reverse osmosis systems remove contaminants from water by using pressure to force water through a fine membrane.  Of all the water filtration options, RO membranes have the smallest pore size distribution ranging from 0.1nm to 1nm, which is small enough to remove the contaminants discussed in this article.  

Water and contaminants that do not pass through the membrane are rejected and go directly to the drain.  Only the “permeate” stream is used as drinking water.

Most RO systems available to homeowners include a series of prefilters to remove sediment or contaminants that could load the RO membrane and reduce its useful life.  These systems commonly include an activated carbon filter as one of the pre-filters.

There are two reverse osmosis systems to consider.  

In the most common, the RO system purifies water and sends it to a storage tank.  When the faucet is open, the water in the tank is available and will flow.  As the water is used and the pressure in the storage tank drops, the RO system will begin refilling the tank.  

The time required to fill the tank will depend on the pressure in the feed water line and size of the system.  Homeowners who need more instantaneous capacity can install a larger storage tank or run a second tank in parallel.

The second type of RO system is a continuous flow system.  These systems may include an integrated booster pump and a larger membrane to provide water continuously when the tap is open.  

One metric of a RO system is the ratio of purified water to wastewater.  This can range anywhere from generating two gallons of wastewater per gallon of purified water to 0.5 gallons of wastewater to purified water.    Some systems are installed with a permeate pump.  This is a hydraulic pump that uses the pressure in the wastewater stream to help pump the purified water into a storage tank.

Homeowners should also be aware that many manufacturers develop the specifications for their systems based on assuming a constant water pressure of 60 psi.  Homeowners with submersible pumps will likely have higher pressure in their cottages than homeowners using a “jet” pump.  For those cottages with low water pressure, booster pumps can be installed in the feed water line to the RO system to increase the pressure across the RO membrane and improve the recovery time and flow rate.

As cyanobacteria and PFOS impact the water quality of the Finger Lakes, homeowners with private drinking water systems have options for upgrading to remove these new threats. 

 

Bruce Capron earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Berkley. He has worked in engineering and business management positions in the optoelectronics, optics, laser, and medical device industries. Inspired by his work as a school board member, from 2001 to 2009. Capron earned a master’s in educational administration. He retired as Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations, Honeoye Falls-Lima School District in October 2022. He is adjunct professor at SUNY Brockport, where he teaches data analytics to school administrators.

 

Editor’s Note:  Several area companies have kept pace with new technologies for the systems described, but CLWA does not recommend specific manufacturers or installers. We do encourage you to use the same common-sense approach you’d use to make any large purchase for your home: Do your due diligence. 

  • Draw on the technical resources that Dr. Capron has appended to this article.
  • Monitor guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, Environmental Protection Agency, and National Science Foundation relating to water purification systems. They are updated often.
  • Discuss what capacity you need. Do you want to purify your drinking water, or do you want capacity for showers, dishwashing and other uses? 
  • Talk with neighbors and friends who have these systems. Ask what they cost to install and maintain. Ask who installed and were they satisfied with the job? Is there an annual service contract? And so on.
  • Interview installers and ask for references. 
  • Get competitive bids. 
  • If you are as skilled and intrepid as the author, consider installing a system yourself. Now retired, Dr. Capron is self-installing a home system and would be happy to share what he’s learned. Contact him at brucecapron@gmail.com.

 

REFERENCES:

[1] A. Cohen, Blue-Green Algae Poisoning: Cyanobacteria toxicosis
[2] EPA, Drinking Water Health Advisory for the Cyanobaterial Microsystin Toxins, EPA – 820R15100, June 2015
[3] ScienceDirect.com/topics/chemistry/microcystin-lr
[4] Cyanobacterial toxins: Microcystin-LR in Drinking-water, WHO 2003
[5] PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctanoic sulfonate) are two of the most common PFAS chemicals. Although not currently manufactured in the U.S., they may occur in the environment and chemically similar molecules are still used.(American Cancer Society web page: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/chemicals/teflon-and-perfluorooctanoic-acid-pfoa.html)
[6] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0304389413003361#:~:text=The%20polyamide%20based%20membranes%20exhibited,XLE%20BWRO%20and%20AD%20SWRO
[7] PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctanoic sulfonate) are two of the most common PFAS chemicals.  Although not currently manufactured in the U.S., they may occur in the environment and chemically similar molecules are still used.(American Cancer Society web page: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/chemicals/teflon-and-perfluorooctanoic-acid-pfoa.html
[8] https://www.epa.gov/sciencematters/reducing-pfas-drinking-water-treatment-technologies )
[9] Water Quality Association, Granular Activated Carbon Fact Sheet, www.wqa.org

Posted in Drinking Water, News Tagged with: ,

Water Quality update for Friday, September 20th 2024

Substantial cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms (cyanoHABs) continue to be observed in multiple areas around Canandaigua Lake. Today’s reports are primarily coming from the east side, with a few sightings starting to be reported on the west side as well. However, if winds shift, we may get more reports from the west side.

Canandaigua Lake is now experiencing its 11th consecutive day of cyanoHAB reports, marking an active bloom situation. We urge the community to continue using visual cues before entering the water or allowing pets to swim. Please put safety at the forefront of your mind.

Images from the last few days:
This is not just a local issue; many of our neighboring Finger Lakes are also facing substantial bloom events. While the research on the increasing frequency and severity of these blooms is still evolving, we know that factors such as climate change, polluted stormwater runoff, and the impacts of invasive species (like quagga and zebra mussels) play key roles.

For more information on the contributing factors to these blooms, we encourage you to revisit an article by Canandaigua Lake Watershed Program Manager Kevin Olvany. While written a few years ago, it provides valuable insight into the threats to watershed health and the factors influencing the onset of cyanoHABs.

Finally, we’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our incredible volunteers, who have gone above and beyond in monitoring these blooms—many well beyond their original commitments! Their dedication is a true testament to our community’s passion for protecting Canandaigua Lake. Their efforts feed directly into the interactive map on the CLWA website, providing real-time data for everyone to stay informed.

Thank you for your continued vigilance and support.
Posted in Water Quality Updates

Water Quality Update for Friday, September 13th 2024

If you’ve been near Canandaigua Lake the last few days, you may have noticed a significant presence of CyanoHABs (Harmful Algal Blooms). We are currently in the midst of major bloom season, with 38 reports from our trained volunteers since Wednesday, 9/11. As of 12:15 PM today, we’ve already received 4 additional reports, indicating blooms along the shorelines along Kershaw Park and in the northeast.

It’s important to note that most of these reports have been contained to the northern half of the lake at this point. However, conditions may change quickly.

Key Reminders During Active Bloom Events:
• Look before you leap: Always check the lake’s condition before swimming or allowing pets to enter. Familiarize yourself with what harmful algal blooms look like and avoid them! Conditions can change rapidly, so even the latest maps may not fully capture current conditions.
• Signage may not reflect current lake conditions: With the Labor Day holiday behind us, many bathing beaches are no longer staffed with lifeguards and may not be routinely monitored. Warning signs for CyanoHABs may not be in place, so please remain vigilant before swimming.
• Drinking water monitoring: Canandaigua Lake water purveyors are collaborating with the Geneva District Office of the Health Department and the New York State Department of Health to monitor public drinking water for toxins associated with harmful algal blooms. During the bloom season, water samples are collected and sent to a State-approved laboratory to determine if any toxins are present. To date, no toxins have been detected in the finished drinking water. For more information on CyanoHABs and drinking water, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A huge thank you goes out to our dedicated volunteers who continue to help us track CyanoHABs and report water clarity readings. Their efforts feed directly into the interactive map on the CLWA website, providing real-time data for everyone to stay informed. We are grateful to our volunteers for submitting reports, collecting samples, and helping to educate neighbors and friends on this issue.

In recent weeks, several water samples have been sent for analysis at SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry and the Finger Lakes Institute. While we will share a comprehensive report at the end of the season, a table with the most recent results is included below.

Please remember: water quality conditions can change daily, if not hourly, so it’s important to train yourself on what to look for to stay safe during this bloom season. Please refer to all the resources found at the bottom of this email to educate yourself fully.

 

CYANOHAB RESULTS FROM THIS WEEK

A subset of CLWA volunteers are trained to not only identify, but sample cyanoHABs. CLWA works with two different labs to analyze CyanoChl concentration (measurement of the blue-green chlorophyll) and microcystin (toxin) levels. The two labs we use are the Finger Lakes Institute in Geneva and SUNY ESF in Syracuse.

This week’s results (found below) are from the Finger Lakes Institute. The toxin results are forthcoming.

The NYSDEC considers a sample with concentrations of 25ug/L or greater of cyanoCHL to be a CyanoHAB. This means that all of this week’s samples were well above bloom thresholds, even the open water sample collected.

More information on cyanobacteria and the microcystin toxin:
• The most commonly found cyanobacteria in Canandaigua Lake (microcystis), read: As We Drink and Breathe: Adverse Health Effects of Microcystins and Other Harmful Algal Bloom Toxins in the Liver, Gut, Lungs and Beyond
• For info on cHABS in humans: Health Effects Support Document for the Cyanobacterial Toxin Microcystins

Posted in Water Quality Updates

Water Quality Update for September 6, 2024

Water Quality Update for September 6, 2024 

As summer winds down, our water quality monitoring efforts remain in full swing. This past week, volunteers remained vigilant and completed 75 surveys for cyanoHABs. Unfortunately,  blooms persisted this week, with several reports coming in on Tuesday the 3rd and Wednesday the 4th. The calm, windless days and sunny weather provided ideal conditions for blooms, primarily reported along shoreline areas and in coves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last week, we shared test results from several of the bloom samples collected by trained volunteers and watershed staff during the peak of the bloom activity at the end of August. Results showed high microcystin toxin levels in several of the blooms. It is important to note that areas with visual evidence of cyanoHABs – green, discolored water, surface streaking, or a spilled paint appearance – must continue to be avoided as they may contain toxins that may impact pet and human health. 

Additional Monitoring

CLWA / ESF Partnership
In addition to our regular cyanoHABs monitoring program, CLWA is participating in a 3-year research project in collaboration with SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF). Every Tuesday at 11 a.m., six sites on Canandaigua Lake (three on the east side, three on the west) are sampled from the end of docks. These routine samples—taken bloom or no bloom—are analyzed weekly for chlorophyll, toxin levels, and nutrients. Since sampling occurs at the same time each week and isn’t tied to bloom activity, most are collected under non-bloom conditions. This provides valuable baseline data on ‘ambient’ lake conditions during the summer. So far, results show that non-bloom areas consistently have minimal to low levels of cyanobacteria and the associated toxins, and are therefore well below a concentration that would close a public beach.  

Canandaigua Watershed Council Fluroprobe Monitoring
Watershed Council staff have utilized the bbe Fluoroprobe on Thursday 9/5 to measure the major classes of algae/cyanobacteria throughout the water column (down to 100 feet below the lake surface) in three different locations on the lake.  Results showcased that cyanobacteria concentrations ranged from zero to 2.5 ug/L in these locations.  Cyanobacteria were highest near the lake surface down to 25 feet.  As the probe reached 60 feet, cyanobacteria were undetectable.  Additional sampling with the fluoroprobe will continue to occur through mid October.

We mention these other methods of monitoring because it is important to remember DEC guidance “If you see it, avoid it”needs to be followed. Non-bloom areas are often deemed safe for recreational use, but active bloom areas can arise quickly and should be avoided due to the likelihood that they may contain concerning levels of the microcystin toxin. It’s important to familiarize yourself with cyanoHABs and know what to look for to stay safe. Please refer to all the resources found at the bottom of this email to educate yourself fully. 

Please check out the article for more information on HABs in the Finger Lakes and the challenges we face as a region in mitigating this concern.

Buoys out for DEC Gill Netting 

During the week of September 9th, you may notice orange buoys with flags on Canandaigua Lake. These buoys mark areas where DEC Aquatic Biologists will be monitoring forage fish populations, primarily alewife. The nets will be set in depths ranging from 40 to 60 feet and, in some cases, may be relatively close to shore.

Thank you for your attention as the DEC carries out this important work. 

Important update: Changes to Canandaigua State Marine Park Boat Launch after Labor Day 

Parking at Canandaigua Lake State Marine Park will be unavailable after September 2nd, 2024, due to paving work on the parking lot. Please note that the launch area will remain open. Once the improvements are complete, parking is expected to reopen by late September or early October. Questions can be forwarded to the NYS Parks Office at 315-789-2331. 

Posted in Water Quality Updates