On a recent trip to the northwestern side of the lake, a familiar and unpleasant note was in the air; the smell of dying Cladophora, a nuisance algae. With the reign of the Cladophora at an end we now find ourselves in the season of the Cyanobacteria.

The algal community is diverse. As the chemical, physical, and biological conditions in the lake change over time, the composition of this community changes as well. Some species thrive and multiply under specific conditions found at certain times of year while others struggle to survive. This ebb and flow is referred to as algal succession and is an important ecological characteristic of the lake.  

Green algae such as Cladophora tend to thrive during the early summer period. These are proceeded by Cyanobacteria; also known as blue green algae (BGA). Cyanobacteria can produce harmful algal blooms (HABs), which are the focus of Bloom Watch. Both are natural and important components to the health of the lake. However, excessive amounts of either can negatively impair waterways as many of you are aware of.  

Understanding the conditions that lead to this excessive growth is still a subject of research, but elevated nutrient levels and the presence of dreissenid (zebra and quagga) mussels, are commonly implicated as primary drivers for both Cladophoraand BGA. Addressing these drivers is an ongoing and long-term challenge made more complex by additional factors, yet we must rise to it and work towards the goal of a healthier Seneca Lake.