CARMEL – Putnam County health officials are reporting several beaches have been closed due to algae blooms, including Barger Pond in Putnam Valley; Carraras Beach in Lake Peekskill; Continental Village Beach in Continental Village, Lake Secor Beach in Mahopac Falls, North Beach in Lake Peekskill, Northview Beach on Lake Oscawana in Putnam Valley and Sycamore Park Beach in Mahopac.
Officials said algae blooms can appear in many colors, including blue-green, green, yellow, brown, or red. They may form scum on the water’s surface or along the shoreline. Large blooms often look unnatural, as if paint has been spilled into the water.
A spokesperson called the algae bloom issue “center stage” for the health department this time of the year stressing negative effects result from the blooms by being in the water and having direct contact or even sitting on the beach and breathing in the harmful blooms which produce a toxin that can be extremely harmful not only to humans but pets.
After three dogs died in North Carolina from swimming in a pond contaminated with toxic algae, health officials across the U.S. shared warnings and safety tips to help protect pets.
The Putnam Health Department urge the public, “If you see anything that looks suspicious in the water–be it cloudy, discolored, or unclear–avoid it completely and call the Health Department. We will be happy to inspect the situation.”
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reported that toxic algae exposure has contributed to clusters of dog deaths during the past three summers.
The American Kennel Association noted that dogs are especially vulnerable because they often swallow large amounts of water while swimming in lakes or ponds. If the water contains toxins or cyanobacteria, ingestion can be fatal. Dogs may also be exposed after leaving the water if they are not rinsed off and then lick contaminated fur.
The guidance is clear. When in doubt, stay out. To protect yourself and your pets, avoid any water that appears to contain an algae bloom.
If a dog may have been exposed to a harmful algae bloom, the EPA advises the caretaker to wear gloves, rinse the animal immediately with clean, fresh water, and watch for symptoms that may appear within 15 minutes or several days. If the dog develops vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, staggering, drooling, breathing difficulty, or convulsions, the owner should seek veterinary care right away.
The Putnam Health Department can be reached by phoning 845-808-1390.
Residents can also call the region’s local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 for questions about cyano-bacterial toxin poisoning.
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