Harmful algae blooms are still present on the Allegheny Reservoir, with levels decreasing in several places.
According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Rose Reilly, water quality unit lead, levels have changed to World Health Organization advisory levels at Moebanks and Onoville. An advisory sign is also present at Willow Bay, while caution signs remains at Lowbanks, Bearclaw and Highbanks.
Samples were collected by Elissa Parker of the Seneca Nation on Sept. 17. More samples will be collected this week.
When blue-green algae cell counts are less than 20,000 cells/mL, there is no risk to public health through primary body contact, Reilly explained. When cell counts are greater than 20,000 cells/mL and less than 100,000 cells/mL, risk is generally limited to skin irritation, gastrointestinal illness or other allergenic effects. This is an advisory level.
The highest level is caution, and that indicates cell counts are greater than 100,000 cells/mL. Signs are left in place until algae counts remain below action levels for at least two weeks.
Reilly said an algae sample collected at Lowbanks on Sept. 17 showed the highest level of blue-green algae, with 3,514,330 cells/mL, which is a substantial increase from 58,935 cells/mL collected a week earlier.
The numbers were lower in other areas where samples were taken.
Near Bearclaw in Quaker Bay, the sample showed 28,348 cells/mL, an improvement over the sample from a week earlier, which showed 241,027 cells/mL.
An improvement was seen at Highbanks Launch also. The current sample showed 115,383 cells/mL, down from 185,373 cells/mL one week earlier.
Near Wolf Run, the sample showed a level of 29,651 cells/mL, a substantial drop from one week earlier, when the level was 358,238 cells/mL.
Near Moebanks, the level was 80,251 cells/mL, down from 87,092 cells/mL a week earlier.
There was an increase at Sawmill Bay/Onoville Marina, Reilly indicated. The current sample showed 80,849 cells/mL, while the sample a week before showed 56,218 cells/mL.
Dominant Cyanobacteria species were Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, Microcystis aeruginosa, and Anabaena planctonica, Reilly indicated.
