Staff Report / July 1, 2025
Toxic Algae Threatens Health of Finger Lakes Waters
Toxic algae, more accurately known as harmful algal blooms (HABs), continue to pose a growing threat to the Finger Lakes, impacting all eleven lakes including Keuka. These blooms, caused by cyanobacteria, can produce dangerous toxins that harm people, pets, and aquatic ecosystems. The Finger Lakes Land Trust (FLLT) has compiled in-depth information about HABs, detailing their appearance, health risks, and the environmental factors fueling their spread, such as nutrient runoff from agriculture and development, as well as warming lake temperatures linked to climate change.
To help combat this issue, FLLT is focused on public education and land conservation efforts that reduce the conditions that lead to blooms. Their initiatives include protecting streamside forests, restoring wetlands, and working with partners to manage runoff. By combining science-based strategies with community outreach, the organization supports a regional effort to protect drinking water, wildlife, and recreation across the Finger Lakes. Residents and lake users are encouraged to learn how to identify and report blooms, limit fertilizer use, and support watershed protection.
To learn more and review the many resources that FLLT makes available to the public, visit: https://www.fllt.org/toxic-algae-in-the-finger-lakes/
