UPDATE: View CAUTION SIGN HERE
Here’s the latest from the city about the closure of Newton’s Crystal Lake.
Crystal Lake to Remain Closed Until Further Notice
Newton – Due to recent water quality test results, Crystal Lake will remain closed until further notice. The lake has been closed since Monday, due to low visibility levels resulting from a recent algae bloom. On Monday, water samples were collected and tested for bacteria and toxin levels. Today, the City of Newton received the
results from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH,) which showed elevated levels of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae.) Although toxins were not detected, bacteria levels exceed those recommended by MDPH for water contact. Individuals as well as pets are advised to avoid any contact with Crystal Lake at this time.“The type of algae bloom we are seeing at Crystal Lake is common, though it occurred earlier than usual this year due to the warm weather trend,” said Linda Walsh, Director of Health and Human Services. “Public safety is our highest priority, which is why we have taken this precautionary measure, and are asking people and pets to avoid contact with the water at Crystal Lake until further notice.”
Because toxins have not been detected, health effects are minimal for individuals who may have utilized the lake recently. Regular monitoring will continue in accordance with state guidelines.
For more information on the algae bloom please visit www.newtonma.gov.
This was sent as an email to city officials from the city’s CFO..
I have two thoughts about this:
1. Given that the swim season traditionally ends in mid-August doesn’t this effectively mean the (legal) swim season is over for the year?
2. I’m surprised this hasn’t received more attention. Am I the only one who thinks this is pretty big news for Newton?
I agree with you on both points, Greg. Given the forecast for some more very hot weather, I think that it is unlikely that the algae bloom (more accurately perhaps a bacterial bloom) will subside before the 19th – though anything can happen. I especially hope that pet owners get the word not to keep their dogs away from the water because this bacteria has the potential to be lethal to pets.
Hope its well-posted at the lake. I haven’t been by there lately.
@Native Newtonian, It is very well posted at the lake and Parks & Rec staffers are giving out printed information at the entrance to the bathhouse. I passed by a short time ago and even with all of the notices there are still people swimming and I saw one dog in the water. I guess for the die hard who believe in swimming at your own risk, this is just going to be one of the risks they assume. (shrug)
Instead of focusing so much of their effort on keeping people from swimming in Crystal Lake, the Parks and Recreation Commission should have been looking for ways to protect the lake with a plan to mitigate harmful substances in area storm water runoff. Does the Commission have an active program to educate the public and reduce infiltration of harmful substances in storm water runoff around the lake? Perhaps if the Commission had not been so close minded, and had been willing to hold the public hearing that was requested of them, they might have educated themselves about the REAL problem at Crystal Lake.
Has any one asked the Crystal Lake Conservancy about the condition of the lake?
@Alderman Yates: Village 14 has invited Janice Bourque, co-president of the CLC to become a contributor to this blog. We expect she will post something in the next few days.
In the meanwhile, Patch posted a new story on the lake conditions today.
Apparently, water quality issues that are in the news are not confined to Crystal Lake.