DEC launches algae reporting, interactive map site

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has launched the 2024 interactive map and reporting system that tracks Harmful Algae Blooms (HAB). The New York Harmful Algal Bloom System (NYHABS) allows citizens to send reports of HABs to the DEC on a smartphone.

The DEC and Department of Health (DOH) evaluate reports posted to the NYSHABS page and the website's interactive map. People can submit reports of affected water to be added to the NYSHAB website's interactive map. The DEC monitors hundreds of bodies of water during the summertime, working closely with the State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) and DOH to communicate public and environmental protections.

New Yorkers should "know it, report it, and report it if they see any HABs as they can cause conditions that lead to accumulations. Excess sunlight, warm temperatures, and low water flow can all trigger a bloom to start growing from too much phosphorus and nitrogen.

Know it, avoid it, report it

• Know it: HABs sometimes vary in appearance from green dots scattered in water to long linear green streaks, pea soup, or spilled green paint.
• Avoid it: HABs can be highly toxic to people and animals, and it's best to avoid contact with algae blooms. The DEC receives their largest number of reports during the warmest months of the year like August and September.
• Report it: Reports can be made through the online NYSHABS form or by emailing the DOH at harmfulalgae@health.ny.gov.