With temperatures climbing into the upper 80s on Tuesday, most of Burlington’s beaches and a couple in state parks are closed due to blooming cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae.
Along Burlington beaches, cyanobacteria blooms in swimming water led to closures at both ends of North Beach, both ends of Blanchard Beach, Texaco Beach, Oakledge Cove and Blodgett Water Access Point on Tuesday afternoon.
Beaches were also closed in Kill Kare State Park in St. Albans Town and part of the beach at Lake Carmi State Park in Franklin. Warnings for low to moderate amounts of cyanobacteria have been issued along both ends of Leddy Park beach in Burlington and along three state park beaches.
Beachgoers can often spot cyanobacteria with their plain eye.
Blooms “most commonly look like pea soup or a blue-green paint spill on the water,” but they can also look pink, brown or red, according to Bridget O’Brien, an environmental health scientist with the Vermont Department of Health.
When water is contaminated with cyanobacteria, it’s deemed unsafe for recreation and swimming. Cyanobacteria is a naturally occurring organism in the water that tends to “bloom” or rapidly multiply in the sun and when the water is warm — commonly in the late summer, O’Brien said.
The bacteria can produce toxins that cause skin irritations and gastrointestinal issues, but can also cause neurological symptoms like numbness and dizziness, O’Brien said.
Officials advise that children and pets stay out of the water during warnings, as they’re more likely to get symptoms after exposure, O’Brien said.
In addition to hot temperatures that have likely contributed to cyanobacteria blooms, the southern half of the state is experiencing very dry conditions, said Eric Myskowski, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Burlington.
Those dry conditions are expected to get worse throughout the week, Myskowski said. On Tuesday, officials at the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation forecasted a high risk of fire danger across southern Vermont and a moderate risk of fire danger across the northwest corner of the state.
For people in the Queen City looking to escape the heat, North Shore Natural Area is the only town beach that’s been green-lit to swim in without warning from Burlington Parks, Recreation and Waterfront. Red Rocks Park in South Burlington also remains open along with the town beaches in Colchester.
