The first confirmed Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) of 2026 has been spotted on Cayuga Lake.
The Cayuga Lake Watershed Network and Community Science Institute announced that a volunteer with their HAB monitoring program reported what appeared to be a bloom on Thursday just south of Harris Park in the Village of Cayuga. The volunteer took photos and a water sample for further analysis.
The group conducted a microscopic analysis of the sample, and can now confirm the presence of a harmful algal bloom, “with abundant Microcystis species observed.”
While the network and institute said they will not conduct a toxin analysis on the sample, they said this marks the first confirmed HAB on Cayuga Lake for the 2026 season and the earliest one on record.
While these early-season blooms are not unheard of, the group said this shows how quickly lake conditions can change.
Anyone who spots a suspected bloom is advised to avoid it and report it for further study.
Additionally, the group noted that its HAB monitoring program begins on June 1. Anyone wishing to take part in the program can find application information here.
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