Harmful Blue-Green Algae Bloom-related Beach Closure Summary

Regulated bathing beaches continue closing their swimming areas more frequently and for longer periods of time during the beach season (Memorial Day-Labor Day) to ensure that people avoid contact with harmful blue-green algae blooms and their toxins. When a harmful blue-green algae bloom is present at a bathing beach, the swim area must be closed to protect public health, regardless if toxins are present, and remain closed until the water is clear and testing confirms toxin levels are below a level of concern.

View harmful-algae bloom beach trends over time.


2023 Summary Data

Map of counties with lost beach days due to harmful blue-green algal blooms
County # Times Beaches Closed # Beaches Closed Waterbodies with Beach Closures # Lost Beach Days 
Broome   3 2 Whitney Point Reservoir, Greenwood Park Lake 54
Cattaraugus   4 2 Red House Lake, Quaker Lake 20
Cayuga   2 2 Cayuga Lake 14
Chautauqua   7 4 Chautauqua Lake 80
Dutchess   2 2 Beekman Park Lake, Wilcox Park Pond 19
Essex   4 4 Lake Champlain 22
Jefferson   1 1 Lake Ontario 3
Livingston   4 2 Conesus Lake 31
Oneida   2 1 Delta Lake 8
Onondaga   4 2 Jamesville Reservoir, Cross Lake 50
Ontario   2 1 Honeoye Lake 13
Orange   11 2 Lake Tiorati, Beaver Dam Lake 47
Otsego   3 3 Otsego Lake, Canadarago Lake 39
Putnam   18 14 Roaring Brook Lake, Putnam Lake, Lake Peekskill, Lake Casse, Lake Carmel, Lake Tonetta, Oscawana Lake 333
Saratoga   6 1 Saratoga Lake 26
Schuyler   1 1 Cayuta Lake 9
Seneca   1 1 Seneca Lake 2
Tompkins   4 1 Cayuga Lake 15
Yates   4 2 Keuka Lake 20