Harmful Algae Found In Flushing Park Pond, State Says

FLUSHING, QUEENS -- Those planning an outing to Bowne Park this summer may want to steer clear of the waters. The Flushing park's pond is home to newfound algae blooms, and they may be harmful to humans and animals, according to lab tests conducted by state environmental officials earlier this month.

Widespread algae blooms were confirmed in Bowne Pond, located on the west side of Flushing's 11.8-acre Bowne Park, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Samples taken from the park on June 4 suggest they may produce harmful toxins, according to the department's lab results.

The algae blooms in Bowne Pond are classified as "widespread/lakewide," meaning they affect anywhere from a large portion to the entire body of water or most to all of the shoreline, the state DEC says.

The good news? The pond isn't among those classified as having blooms with "high toxins," which means there are enough to potentially cause health effects in people and animals who swim in or drink the water. Such levels of toxins were found in tests of Brooklyn's Prospect Park Lake and Harlem's Morningside Pond.

But that doesn't mean you should hop in Bowne Pond just yet. If harmful toxins are in the water, that could subject you to a range of symptoms including vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, allergic reactions, irritated eyes or skin and even difficulty breathing, according to the DEC.

The algae can also latch onto your pet's fur and get into their systems when they clean themselves, causing symptoms such as stumbling and convulsions, excessive drooling, disorientation and strained breathing, the DEC says.

If you think you've spotted an algae bloom - discolored waters in shades of green, blue-green, yellow, brown or red - in your local waters, avoid it and report it, the agency advised. Any contact made with the algae should be washed off throughly with clean water.

View the full DEC report of waters that tested positive for harmful algae blooms here.

Lead photo via Google Maps/November 2017