Toxic Algae Found In Prospect Park Lake For 6th Year, Map Shows

PROSPECT PARK, BROOKLYN — Toxic algae with the power to kill dogs has been spotted in the Prospect Park lake again, state officials have confirmed.

Toxic blue-green algae was found floating near the northwestern banks of the Prospect Park Lake on May 28 for the sixth summer in a row, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

This state Harmful Algae Bloom tracking map also shows that suspicious algae was also found near the Windsor Terrace side of the lake and in the Central Park Lake in Manhattan.

Prospect Park Alliance officials recommend park visitors not let their dogs swim in the lake, since the Harmful Algae Blooms — also known as cyanobacteria — can sicken people or animals who touch or ingest it, and cause vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, skin irritation and more.

The risk to dogs is potentially fatal because they often lap up water then lick their fur after a swim, according to a Cornell University study.

"Algae season is here and when it is detected, we post signage around the lake to alert our park goers to keep them and their dogs safe," said a Prospect Park Alliance spokesperson.

"As a reminder for dog owners—only take your pets swimming at the Dog Beach."

These new sitings come two years after the Prospect Park Alliance launched a $390,000 pilot program to create an "ecoWEIR" filtration system to clean algae from the waters.