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.


2022 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   1 1 Whitney Point Reservoir 49
Cattaraugus   6 2 Quaker Lake, Red House Lake 35
Cayuga   3 3 Cayuga Lake, Owasco Lake 20
Chautauqua   8 1 Chautauqua Lake 52
Clinton   5 3 Lake Champlain 38
Delaware   1 1 Launt Pond 36
Dutchess   2 1 Deer Lake 13
Essex   1 1 Lake Champlain 4
Jefferson   3 1 Lake Ontario 19
Livingston   3 2 Conesus Lake 29
Madison   1 1 Cazenovia Lake 5
Oneida   1 1 Oneida Lake 7
Onondaga   2 1 Jamesville Reservoir 15
Ontario   1 1 Honeoye Lake 8
Orange   4 2 Lake Tiorati, Beaver Dam Lake 26
Otsego   8 4 Otsego Lake 68
Putnam   23 9 Lake Peekskill, Lake Casse, Lake Carmel, Putnam Lake, Oscawana Lake 275
Rockland   1 1 Lake Welch 76
Seneca   3 3 Seneca Lake 34
Sullivan   2 2 Lake Superior, Mongaup Pond 21
Tompkins   5 3 Cayuga Lake, Jennings Pond 23
Westchester   7 4 Lake Mohegan, Lake Lincolndale, Lake Purdys 88
Wyoming   2 2 Yogi and Boo Boo's Campground Pond, Woodstream Campsite Pond 99
Yates   4 4 Keuka Lake 32