PORT HENRY, N.Y. -
Blue green algae is back. It's been spotted all across the Lake Champlain shoreline, on both the Vermont and New York sides. And today, that algae kept swimmers away.
Closed? What? It's hot and it's the 4th of July... But, "It looks like pea soup," Moriah Town Supervisor Tom Scozzafava said.
And it's in our water, and shouldn't be. Much of Lake Champlain is infested with blue green algae. "We've been open now for over 40 years and this is the first time we've ever seen this problem," said Scozzafava.
Because of the disgusting green stuff, Port Henry Village Beach and parts of the Moriah Town Beach are closed. "It's a shame, it's really just a shame," Beach go-er Judy Angrisano said.
There were plenty of people swimming and enjoying the water, but just a couple hundred yards away the Department of Health says there's no swimming allowed and it has swimmers questioning why some areas are safe and others are not.
Scozzafava says the wind has a lot to do with it, and can change the conditions almost immediately, that's why swimmers have permission to swim bay side. Angrisano says she doesn't want to take the chance. "Myself, I wouldn't go in and I wouldn't let any animal or my grandchildren go in."
But her grand kids did swim in the water Tuesday, when the Health Department hadn't yet deemed the water unsafe.
"My daughter in law couldn't even sleep last night for fear the damage was already done," Angrisano said.
Fortunately they're fine, but exposure to blue green algae can be harmful... digestive issues, skin irritation and even worse. "Seizures to paralysis, to possible death, so who would go swimming?" Angrisano questioned.
One way of checking the conditions in the water near you, is the "pencil test." Dip the pencil in the lake and if blue or green stuff coats the pencil and doesn't slide off, don't get in the water.
We will continue to watch and keep you informed on this issue.
