Kent Officials Prepare for Algae Issues on Lake Carmel
Last summer, the woes with blue-green algae in Lake Carmel dampened a scorching summer for Town of Kent residents. This year, the Kent town board is preparing ahead of time in case the algae makes an unwelcomed return.
At its April 26 meeting, the town board didn’t commit to if or how it would treat the lake, with Supervisor Maureen Fleming noting the issue was too big to be determined in one night, but the town board did agree to apply for a copper sulfate permit and cutrine plus permit with the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation. That way, if the town decides to go either route, the action could be taken right away with swim season starting at the end of June.
The copper sulfate or cutrine plus can’t be used as a preventative measure, but only if blue-green algae appears, Fleming said.
More testing would be done after the Lake Carmel Park District joined the New York State Federation of Lake Association this year, Fleming said, leading to regular observation.
“We’re going to more closely monitor the lake earlier this year,” Fleming said. “We’re not going to be in desperate shape this year.”
Blue-green algae can pose health risks to people that come in contact with it. Last year the county Health Department had to close multiple lakes at different times throughout the county, including Lake Carmel because of the algae issue, frustrating residents in the district to no end.
Lake Carmel District Committee chairwoman Pat Madigan said she was happy to see the town better prepared this year, rather than playing catch-up. The committee pushed the town to apply for the permits ahead of the season, Madigan said.
“Last year there was much movement trying to get the permits when the blue-green algae was all over Lake Carmel,” Madigan said.
