Afternoon read: Blue green algae forces shift of Port Henry beach

The Plattsburgh Press-Republican is reporting that toxic blue-green algae has been identified on the public beach at Port Henry.

“We relocated the Town Beach, to the (Bulwagga) Bay side of the Town Campground,” [Moriah town supervisor Tom] Scozzafava said. “We moved lifeguards, equipment, everything. The bay side is free from the algae.”

There have been no reports of illness.  Town and village officials hope to reopen the entire swimming area as early as Friday.

For a discussion of the pollution issues that trigger blue-green algae, check out Sarah Harris’s NCPR story from July 2nd.  She reports on new Federal efforts to slow agricultural run-off from farms around Lake Champlain.

Tags: champlainvalley, environment