Harmful algal blooms reported at Saratoga Lake for fifth year

For yet another year, Saratoga Lake has been added to the list of lakes and reservoirs where dangerous cyanobacteria blooms have been found. Advisories of harmful algal blooms—also known as blue-green algae—have previously been issued for the lake beginning in 2019.

What are harmful algal blooms and why do they seem to keep happening every year?

Tiny organism,

big impacts

“Lake water has many different types of microscopic organisms and some of them—many different types of algae and cyanobacteria—are plants or bacteria that can perform photosynthesis,” said Sarah Michelle Collins, an assistant...