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New York Harmful Algal Blooms Cleanup Campaign Urgent Action Alert
Please become a signatory to our NEW: Coalition Letter Which Requests That Governor Hochul Take Immediate Regulatory Enforcement Action to Eliminate Harmful Algal Blooms Across New York
Watch our: New York Harmful Algal Bloom Cleanup Campaign Action Alert Video and our Owasco Lake TMDL/HABs News Conference With Auburn City Councilors Terry Cuddy & Jimmy Giannettino 9/28/2023
Greetings Activists,
I am thrilled to let you know that Toxics Targeting's 2023 New York Harmful Algal Blooms Cleanup Campaign is off to a rip-roaring start after a three-year COVID-19 pandemic hiatus.
We just released a New York Map of nearly 200 lakes, rivers, reservoirs and bays with confirmed Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). Waterbodies with HABs are sources of drinking water for approximately 10 Million New Yorkers.
See: Confirmed Harmful Algal Blooms in New York State (10/03/2023) Map and Confirmed Harmful Algal Blooms in New York State (10/03/2023) List
Check out our incredible front-page news and TV coverage:
Algal Bloom Crisis - Channel 9 Syracuse - 10-2-2023
Governor Hochul's Failure to Enforce TMDL Watershed Cleanup Requirements
The Hochul administration's efforts to eliminate HABs are a shocking failure. As a result, HABs grow more widespread each year.
HABs are caused by excessive nutrients, notably phosphorus, released into waterbodies through sewage discharges and uncontrolled agricultural and stormwater runoff. Phosphorus essentially fertilizes the growth of naturally occurring cyanobacteria that cause HABs. Cyanobacteria generate highly toxic microcystins that can contaminate drinking water and cause sickness and potentially death through direct contact involving swimming, boating or other recreational activities.
More than 200 polluted lakes, rivers and bays across New York are included in the National 303(d) Registry of Impaired Waters. Many of those water have HABs and required comprehensive Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) watershed cleanup plans decades ago, but to no avail.
See: New York State 303(d) 2018 Registry of Impaired Waters List
In order to restore polluted waters to their best "uses" TMDLs are required to impose legally mandated pollution Waste Load Allocations for "point discharges" and Load Allocations for 'non-point' pollution sources, such as agricultural and stormwater runoff that contribute phosphorus and other nutrients which cause HABs.
The problem is that New York simply fails to adopt TMDLs as required by law. Cayuga Lake is our state's #1 TMDL priority. A TMDL required in 2002 has never been adopted or implemented. Hundreds of impaired waters similarly lack TMDLs. This irresponsible and unacceptable lack of strict regulatory enforcement must not be tolerated any longer or public health will be imperiled.
Our New Coalition Letter Requests That Governor Hochul Halt HABs by Adopting and Implementing Comprehensive TMDL Watershed Clean Up Plans
Our coalition letter requests that every waterbody with confirmed HABs must be immediately added to the National 303(d) Registry of Impaired Waters. A comprehensive TMDL watershed cleanup plan must be proposed within two years and fully funded and implemented within five years to clean up sources of nutrient pollution that cause HABs. TMDLs must remain in effect until HABs are halted.
If You Drink Water Supplied From Lakes, Reservoirs or Rivers Polluted by HABs, Please Take Action TODAY.
In 2023, Cayuga Lake has more confirmed HABs (77) than any other waterbody in New York. More than 30,000 residents drink water from this impaired waterbody.
See: Cayuga Lake Algae and Weed Pics 7-20-2023, Cayuga Lake Algae and Weed Pics 8-1-2023
In 2023, Owasco Lake, which supplies drinking water to 45,000 residents of Auburn, NY and surrounding areas, has 68 confirmed HABs.
See: Owasco Lake HABs 9/6/23, Cayuga County DOH 9/8/2023 HABs Update, Owasco Lake HAB pics 9-2023
Other critical New York water supply sources with HABs are: Cannonsville Reservoir (NYC/Delaware Co.), Owasco Lake (Auburn/Cayuga Co.), Cayuga Lake (Cayuga, Seneca, Tompkins Co.), Skaneateles Lake (Syracuse and Skaneateles/Onondaga, Cayuga, Cortland Co.), Hemlock Lake (Rochester/Livingston, Ontario Co.), Basic Creek Reservoir (Albany/Albany Co.), Amawalk Reservoir (NYC/Westchester Co.), Bog Brook Reservoir (NYC/Putnam Co.), DeRuyter Reservoir (Madison, Onondaga Co.), Jamesville Reservoir (Onondaga Co.) as well as Lake George, Lake Ontario and Lake Champlain.
See: Confirmed Harmful Algal Blooms in New York State (10/03/2023) List
Please Call Governor Hochul to Request That She Fulfill Our Coalition Letter Request to Halt HABs: 518 474 8390
Identify the waterbody with HABs that you are concerned about. Demand TMDL comprehensive Watershed Cleanup Plans for all waterbodies with HABs. Make powerful, informed arguments. Know what you are talking about.
Call and keep calling. Do Not Stop Until You Drop.
Conclusion
If you want to clean up HABs that plague New York's historic waters, please take the effective actions spelled out in this alert. That is what it will take to win this immensely challenging environmental and public health protection battle.
Thank you for all your hard work. Go Hard. Keep slugging. There is strength in numbers.
Onward and upward,
Walter