News from the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: July 19, 2013
CONTACT: Sonya Carlson (603) 271-0698 or (603) 419-9229
State Removes Cyanobacteria Warning for Province Lake, Effingham, NH
Concord, NH – The cyanobacteria cell concentration in Province Lake, Effingham, NH, is below a level of public health concern. As a result, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) has removed the cyanobacteria lake warning issued on July 11, 2013.
Areas examined today, July 19, 2013, included areas along Bonnyman Point, Bailey & Remick Roads. The growth has been reduced to small specks throughout the water column, but the overall concentration of cyanobacteria in the samples collected was low. However, once a bloom has been seen in a lake, that lake is more likely to have future blooms. Please continue to monitor your individual shoreline for changing conditions and avoid any large amounts of growth in the water.
DES routinely monitors public beaches and public waters of the state for cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria are natural components of water bodies worldwide, but blooms and surface scums may form when excess phosphorus is available to the water. Some cyanobacteria produce toxins that are stored within the cells but released upon cell death. Toxins can cause both acute and chronic health effects that range in severity. Acute health effects include irritation of skin and mucous membranes, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Chronic effects include liver and central nervous system damage.
Visit the DES Beach Program website for photos and more information about cyanobacteria at http://des.nh.gov/
Updates on advisories and warnings may be obtained at http://www2.des.state.nh.us/
Follow the Beaches twitter feed:
http://twitter.com/NHDES_
If you notice anything resembling cyanobacteria, please refrain from wading, swimming, or drinking the water. Keep all pets out of the water and contact DES immediately. Please call DES to report a cyanobacteria bloom at (603) 419-9229