Update on a Tumultuous Week as Harmful Algal Blooms Imperil Drinking Water All Over New York State

Harmful Algal Blooms Continue to Skyrocket to Unprecedented Levels as Drinking Water is Imperiled Across New York State

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Greetings Activists,

New York remains engulfed in a record-setting statewide HABs crisis that Governor Hochul is powerless to halt because she inexplicably refuses to provide a favorable reply to our respectful: Coalition Letter Which Requests That Governor Hochul Take Immediate Regulatory Enforcement Action to Eliminate Harmful Algal Blooms Across New York.

Our state's HABs fiasco will not be resolved until we require our Governor to enforce New York's applicable regulatory requirements by adopting and implementing Total Maximum Daily Load comprehensive watershed regulatory cleanup plans for all waterbodies impaired by HABs.

With that goal in mind, I write to update you on a tumultuous week in our Cayuga Lake Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and New York Water Pollution Cleanup Campaign

On 10/8/24 HABs Reportedly Threaten Drinking Water Supplied From Owasco Lake to 45,000 Local Residents

On October 8, 2024, Cayuga County Health Authorities reported that toxic microcystins released by HABs in Owasco Lake were detected in public drinking water at 0.23 micrograms per liter for the City of Auburn and 0.26 micrograms per liter for the Town of Owasco. These levels were perilously close to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 10-day microcystin Health Advisory level of 0.3 micrograms per liter.

See: Low Levels of Toxin Detected in City of Auburn/Town of Owasco Drinking Water: Acceptable for Use

Subsequent testing of drinking water supplied to approximately 45,000 local residents documented microcystin levels were non-detect.

This is yet another deplorable incident that documents Governor Hochul's disastrously incompetent efforts to halt HABs that imperils the drinking water supplied to more than 10 Million New Yorkers, including residents of Auburn, Syracuse, Skaneateles, Rochester, Ithaca and New York City.

HABs Are Skyrocketing to Shocking Levels All Over New York State.

So far in 2024 a total of 1,980 HABs has been confirmed in 204 waterbodies in New York. In 2023, a total of 1,150 HABs was confirmed in 207 waterbodies.

1. Seneca Lake: 366 HABs

2. Canandaigua Lake: 262 HABs

3. Skaneateles: 147 HABs

4. Cayuga Lake: 142 HABs

5. Beaver Dam Lake (Orange): 88 HABs

6. Owasco Lake: 87 HABs

7. Chautauqua Lake: 75 HABs

8. Honeoye Lake: 55 HABs

9. Hyde Lake (Jefferson): 52 HABs

10. Lake Ontario: 30 HABs including Braddock Bay: 1, Irondequoit Bay: 1; Sodus Bay: 2; Port Bay: 2

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Use our new: HABs Citizen Advocacy Action Guide

Conclusion

Against this background of intensifying and expanding HABs all over New York, Governor Hochul continues to promote pathetically weak, hit or miss voluntary water pollution control efforts that: a) fail to enforce our state's extraordinarily strict water quality regulatory requirements, b) lack dedicated funding and c) do not involve any meaningful efforts to pinpoint pollution sources and clean them up on a comprehensive basis in order to restore impaired waterbodies to their best uses, notably drinking water supply.

The Governor must be held accountable for New York's intensifying HABs catastrophe. That is the main task at hand.

I am pleased to report that activists are making considerable progress toward achieving that goal. It was good to see so many Save Owasco Now members on 10/9/24, including many new activists from all over the Finger Lakes.

I commend Terry Cuddy for his leadership and hard work to resolve the HABs crisis that he has worked with such amazing dedication to end.

I also thank and congratulate Auburn Mayor James N. "Jimmy" Giannettino, Jr. for all his assiduous efforts on behalf of his constituents and in the public interest.

Onward and upward. Keep slugging.

More shortly.

Very best regards,

Walter

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Update on a Tumultuous Week as Harmful Algal Blooms Imperil Drinking Water All Over New York State