Lake Ronkonkoma Back Open After High Bacteria Levels Drop
LAKE RONKONKOMA, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Lake Ronkonkoma has re-opened, after being closed to swimming for five days due to elevated levels of a blue-green algae.
The state re-opened the lake because algae levels dropped well below safety standards, officials said.
The blue-green algae first resurfaced last week in Southampton and then showed up in Lake Ronkonkoma.
Lake Ronkonkoma Beach was off-limits to swimmers after elevated levels of bacteria were detected.
As WCBS 880 Long Island Bureau Chief Mike Xirinachs reported Tuesday, the blue-green algae bloom carries the same lake bacteria that killed a dog in the Hamptons last year.
The algae bloom was detected last week in Lake Ronkonkoma, where a group of friends were fishing Tuesday morning.
High Bacteria Levels Detected In Lake Ronkonkoma
"I won't go swimming at all," a fisherman named Josh told Xirinachs.
He added he'd be tossing any fish he catches back due to the bacteria.
Suffolk County health officials had posted warning notices on the south side of the lake as of Tuesday morning.
The postings are only advisories, but beachgoers at the lake Tuesday were heeding them, Xirinachs reported.
"I'm probably not gonna swim in this," a woman said.
Health officials were monitoring the lake daily, Xirinachs reported.
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