Halifax blue green algae

The municipality halifax blue green algae to help Haligonians identify the potentially harmful bacteria and learn about the risks for their pets and children. Elizabeth Montgomery, water resources specialist with HRM, gave reporters a primer on blue green algae.

Watch for blue-green algae from May to October. Blue-green algae also called cyanobacteria occurs naturally in surface waters like lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. The toxins in some algae can make people sick and can be fatal for pets if ingested. Blue-green algae are microscopic, plant-like organisms that occur naturally in ponds, rivers, lakes and streams. Blue-green algae develops when a period of hot, dry weather is followed by heavy rainfall.

Halifax blue green algae

Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first. If you get Global News from Instagram or Facebook - that will be changing. Find out how you can still connect with us. Officials are warning about the risks of blue-green algae after a dog died following an exposure at Long Lake in the Halifax area last month. Blue-green algae naturally occurs in freshwater environments and may grow when weather conditions are calm and warm. Some types of blue-green algae produce toxins, which can pose a risk to pets and people. In an email to clients Wednesday, the Halifax Veterinary Hospital said the dog spent roughly five minutes in the water in Long Lake in Hammonds Plains on June 16 and quickly became recumbent and non-responsive, and displayed seizure-like activity. She died while en route to the emergency hospital about two hours after exiting the water. The dog was not a patient of the animal hospital, but the notice was sent out to clients warning of the risks of blue-green algae. The animal hospital said Thursday that while the death occurred last month, it only received the information from Nova Scotia Agriculture on Wednesday. He noted the province publishes and updates a list of potential blooms across the province on its website.

It says to keep children and pets away from algae mats. It is even more difficult to predict if blooms will release toxins. New York State.

Notification: Municipal statement regarding de-designated locations. Over the past several weeks, the municipality has been taking a number of steps to provide supports to those experiencing homelessness in our region, and particularly to those sleeping rough in de-designated locations. Harmful Algal Blooms may look like green dots on the surface of the water. Photo Credit: Department of Environmental Conservation. New York State. Harmful Algal Blooms may look like parallel streaks.

A water resources specialist on HRM's environment and climate change team says the cyanobacteria are naturally occurring in Nova Scotia's lakes and rivers, but officials have seen an increase in the number of blooms in recent years. People are being encouraged to avoid swimming in and taking their pets near the lake until further notice. Montgomery said staff are constantly monitoring the water quality at all of HRM's 18 supervised beaches throughout July and August, so if a beach is open, she's confident the water is safe for swimming. If something looks off, the first step is for the lifeguards to snap a photo and send it to HRM's environment and climate change team. When it comes to water quality outside of HRM's 18 supervised beaches, Montgomery said that's provincial jurisdiction, but with more than 1, lakes in HRM alone, not all of them can be constantly monitored. That's why Nova Scotians are being encouraged to learn how to identify blue green algae themselves and be on the lookout for them as they explore the province this summer. Montgomery said the province is relying on members of the public to notify them of potential blooms — which form on and below the water's surface — and mats — which grow on the bottom of rivers and lakes or attached to structures and plants in the water — by calling The province maintains a list of potential blue-green algae blooms online. Despite the name, according to Nova Scotia's Department of Environment and Climate Change, the algae can be a variety of colours, including turquoise, green, brown, red, white or mixes of those colours.

Halifax blue green algae

Notification: Municipal statement regarding Grand Parade and ongoing support to those experiencing homelessness. Over the past several weeks, the municipality has been taking a number of steps to provide supports to those experiencing homelessness in our region, and particularly to those sleeping rough in de-designated locations. Harmful Algal Blooms may look like green dots on the surface of the water. Photo Credit: Department of Environmental Conservation.

Ecs belgium t10 2022

During recreational activities such as swimming, contaminated water could accidentally be swallowed. Does class size matter? The highest concentrations of toxins are usually released into the water when the algae dies. For pets, exposure to blue-green algae can be fatal. Blue-green algae toxins, if present, could be accidentally swallowed or inhaled. Video link. Subscribe here. Halifax Regional Municipality monitors and reports on the status of supervised beaches across the municipality. A lake can seem beautiful and harmless from a distance, but on the surface of the water could lie dangerous blue-green algae. Blue-green algae are microscopic, plant-like organisms that occur naturally in ponds, rivers, lakes and streams.

Want to discuss?

Do not drink the lake water. People or animals that drink contaminated water are at risk of headaches, fever, diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, muscle, joint pain, and liver damage. A bloom can be blue, blue-green, green, red, brown or yellow in colour see photos for both local and regional examples. Notification: Municipal statement regarding de-designated locations. Alerts and closures Municipal staff monitor and report on the status of 18 beaches across the municipality. As blue-green algae in a bloom die, the water may smell bad, similar to rotting plants. The beach is not reopened until analysis confirms toxin levels are within safe limits for recreation. Please read our Commenting Policy first. Find out how you can still connect with us. Since some blue-green algae species can produce toxins that are harmful to humans, blue-green algae blooms are considered a public health concern and beach closures are issued. Join the Conversation 2 Comments.