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HAB Monitoring Bill Passes State Senate

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A bill to combat HABs has passed the state senate with unanimous support.

Sponsored by State Senator Rachel May, the Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring and Prevention Act would create a statewide clearinghouse for HAB data, creating “a comprehensive platform for reporting and dealing with HABs.” The data collected will be used to administer a grant program to prevent and mitigate the blooms.

“Our state’s freshwater resources are the envy of the world, but they are increasingly vulnerable to pollution and the effects of a warming climate. Every season, toxic algal blooms plague many New York lakes, causing a potentially dangerous situation for residents who depend on lakes for drinking water or use them for recreation,” said Senator Rachel May. “The HABMAP Act will help state and local governments understand, identify, and manage threats to our water while maintaining the high quality of life that residents, employers, recreational boaters, fishing enthusiasts, and tourists from around the world have come to expect

May represents the 48th State Senate District which holds all or part of four of the Finger Lakes – Cayuga, Owasco, Skaneateles, and Otisco – along with parts of Onondaga Lake and Lake Ontario. Previously speaking with Finger Lakes News Radio, she said that, while the bill is beneficial to waterbodies throughout the state, it is of particular importance to Owasco Lake.

“When we hear Owasco Lake has a serious HAB problem, sometimes people will say ‘Oh, there are HAB problems everywhere. There’s nothing special about Owasco Lake.’ This will allow us to find out if that’s true or not… and that will guide some of the funding ideas as well,” said May.

Corresponding legislation is currently in the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee, sponsored by Assemblywoman Anna Kelles whose 125th district includes the southern end of Cayuga Lake.

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