They may look like “bubbling scum, spilled paint, hairy-silky strands” or have no outward sign at all, according to Angela Nagle, executive director of Bucks County’s parks and recreation department.
Nagle’s referring to algal blooms, which have been found at Lake Galena in Peace Valley Park, located in New Britain Township, and Lake Luxembourg in Core Creek Park, located in Middletown Township.
While the blooms, known as HABs, are a natural occurrence, they are toxic groups of cyanobacteria that are dangerous to humans, animals and natural ecosystems, officials explained in an alert on the county’s website.
All walking, wading and swimming are prohibited at both waterways at all times, the county said, stressing that includes pets.
The state’s Department of Environmental Protection, which monitors for the HABs, alerted Bucks County on July 30, Nagle said. The DEP doesn’t recommend any mitigation, but asks the public to follow the restrictions and immediately rinse off with clean, fresh water if coming in contact with the affected water.
Anyone showing signs of illness should seek medical attention and any pet that appears ill should be seen by a veterinarian.
As they can vary in shape and size, algal blooms also have different coloring, ranging from blue-green, brown or red to yellow or orange. The bloom eventually dies and decomposes, causing a foul odor, according to officials. Boat docks can often be a place where people and pets congregate, so it’s especially important for authorities to watch for the HABs there and for the public and pets to avoid those areas.
It’s not unusual for the blooms to flourish in Pennsylvania in the summer, as water temperatures rise but, officials said, “In recent years, it has been noticed the frequency of these blooms have increased significantly, but awareness is still low throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania.”
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