Water Quality Update for September 15, 2023

Wednesday, September 6th and Thursday, September 7th were active for cyanoHABs on Canandaigua Lake, with over 20 blooms reported between those two days. This week, there were no cyanoHABs reported.
Volunteer lake monitoring activities will be ongoing through October, with some year-round residents reporting well past that. In previous years, we have occasionally seen blooms in October, so maintaining a reporting network will help us track any changes that may occur.

The Canandaigua Lake Watershed Council has been sampling using a fluoroprobe, which is field instrumentation that can log cyanobacteria levels throughout the water column. Results are showing very low background levels of cyanobacteria in the water column. In addition, the weekly results from six end-of-dock sites as part of the CLWA / SUNY ESF algal monitoring project are only showing low levels of cyanobacteria, and so far there have not been detectable levels of toxins. These samples are taken at the same time each week, in bloom or no bloom conditions. This information is helping us better understand the ambient cyanobacteria and toxin levels when an active bloom is not occurring. In years past, we have mainly tracked levels during an active bloom, which are often elevated. An ongoing question from our members has been – what are the levels like before and after a bloom? This new dataset is helping us better understand that.

We are heading into what looks like a beautiful weekend, and we hope to have a chance to enjoy some time by the water. Please continue to use your visual indicators to look for signs of an active bloom situation – surface streaking, green, discolored water, or surface scums. Calm days (no wind) seem to be more favorable for the rapid proliferation of cyanobacteria and resulting blooms. Please email HABs@canandaigualakeassoc.org with any questions you have.