Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Event Information
Bloom Code 23-3458-B3
Where
Water Body Cayuga Lake
Latitude and Longitude 42.92546, -76.72871
Segment Lakeshore Segment Northeast 1: Northern Marshes to Harris Park
County Cayuga
Extent Large Localized
When
Bloom Reported August 14, 2023
Bloom Sampled August 17, 2023
Microscopic Examination August 15, 2023
What
Bloom Genera [1]
Microscopy Present Dominant
Dolichospermum
Microcystis
Limnoraphis
Bloom Chemistry
Total Chlorophyll a 27170.0 ug/L
Total Microcystin and Nodularins (EPA 546) [2] 11154.0 ug/L
[1] Genera - plural of genus, a category of classification in biology that ranks between the family level and the species level. Because there are many different species of bacteria that are difficult to distinguish, it is more useful to classify bacteria by genus rather than species.
[2] Microcystin
Map of HAB event
Bloom Description

Residential waterfront on Water Street in the village of Cayuga where the curve of the shoreline and the prevailing westerly winds bring the bloom to accumulate (along with floating pondweed debris). At the time of collecting the sample the air temperature was 68F and the water temperature was 74F. The lake was dead calm at 6:30 am when the bloom was first observed to be forming and there was a very gentle breeze at 9:30 (less than 5mph). The sky is partly cloudy and the bloom wasn’t in the sunlight at that time. Checking the extreme ends of zone 3458, some bloom was observed at the southern end at Beacon Bay marina, though less dense than at collection site. At the north end there was only light possible beginning bloom, so the southern portion of the zone is affected. At the time of report (10:15) the winds have picked up and shifted more from the north so the bloom is “breaking up” some except closest to shore. The appearance of the waters extending out into the lake is more of a generalized green soup.