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New York State is taking new steps to prevent the return of harmful algae blooms on the Hudson River after several blooms were spotted last year in places like Kingston, Catskill, and Hudson. The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has introduced a five-year action plan to monitor, manage, and reduce these outbreaks, which can threaten public health and water quality.
Last September, groups like Riverkeeper and researchers from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies documented the largest cyanobacteria bloom seen in nearly forty years along the Hudson. According to the Cary Institute, the bloom—caused by the toxin-producing microbe Microcystis - stretched from Kingston to Norrie Point, complicating scientific studies and raising concerns for people, pets, and wildlife. The New York State DEC confirmed additional blooms in places like Beacon, Hyde Park, Tivoli, and tributaries such as the Wallkill River and Rondout Creek.
Experts point to several causes fueling these blooms. Warmer water temperatures, increased by changing climate conditions, and high levels of nutrients—mainly phosphorus and nitrogen—from sources like wastewater, farm fertilizer runoff, and stormwater contribute to algae growth. Dry weather, especially during late summer, can also make blooms more likely by changing how nutrients move in the river. As reported by the Cary Institute, these factors combined to create the recent unprecedented bloom.
The new DEC roadmap targets six main areas: monitoring and assessing blooms, improving water quality standards, planning for response, applying mitigation practices, and expanding outreach. DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, "This new Roadmap lays out an action agenda over the next five years to address harmful algal blooms to protect our water resources, public health, and local economies across the State." The plan builds on earlier efforts and aims to track down nutrient sources and make the river more resilient to future blooms, as noted by Dan Shapley of Riverkeeper. According to Shapley, “Reducing the risk of HABs in waterways comes down to reducing the amount of nutrients entering that waterway. … It could be a lot of farms dumping fertilizer into the soil, maybe (implementing) projects helping farmers keep stuff on their land.”
While the risk of new blooms is considered low unless another drought occurs, state and local partners will keep monitoring the river and working to reduce nutrient pollution. People are encouraged to enjoy the river but to avoid contact with water if blooms are visible, as toxins can harm people and animals. Anyone who spots a possible algae bloom on the Hudson or its tributaries should report it using the NYS DEC’s Suspicious Algal Bloom Report Form.
To read more about the state’s algae bloom prevention efforts, visit Hudson Valley 360, Riverkeeper, and the Cary Institute.