At DEC’s request, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated Seneca and Cayuga Lakes and the Seneca River in Central New York as a “Vessel Waste No Discharge Zone” (NDZ). It is illegal to discharge sewage from boats into any waterbody designated as a NDZ, and boaters are required to use an appropriate pump-out station, found at many marinas, to dispose of their sewage.

More information about the Seneca/Cayuga Lakes NDZ is in EPA’s press release. Visit DEC’s No Discharge Zone webpage for an overview of NDZs in New York.

Blue-Green Algal Bloom Notices

New information about lakes with blue-green algae bloom notices has been posted today, September 11, on the DEC Blue-Green Algal Bloom Notices webpage.

This week, six waterbodies were added to the notification list, and blooms were reported in several locations in the state. This information is provided from about 181 waterbodies sampled in the last two to three weeks through DEC monitoring programs, volunteers and public reports.

Because waterbodies may have blue-green algae blooms that have not been reported to DEC, we recommend avoiding contact with floating rafts, scums and discolored water—If you see it, avoid it and report it!

Information for pet owners

New York Sea Grant has published a Dogs and Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) brochure, which is available on Sea Grant’s Harmful Algal Blooms Publication’s webpage. The brochure includes:

• descriptions of common exposure symptoms and what to do
• what HABs look like, information about toxins and how dogs can be exposed
• how to reduce your dog’s risk of exposure
• information on how to report suspected blue-green algae blooms

Report a suspected bloom

If you suspect you have seen a blue-green algae bloom, or you, your family, or pet has been in contact with a blue-green algae bloom, please follow the instructions for reporting a bloom to DEC.