Cyanobacteria Alert for Jockey Cove

Two samples from Jockey Cove were reviewed today. The first was collected on Friday 18 August. The cyanobacteria present was Gloeotrichia at a density of 235,000 cells/mL. We typically issue cyanobacteria advisories when the density exceeds 70,000 cells/mL. However, the sample collected today from the same area had no cyanobacteria present, so the alert for Jockey Cove will remain active, and will not be elevated to a warning (advisory) as the bloom conditions observed on Friday have passed.

Gloeotrichia is a particularly dynamic cyanobacteria. It can accumulate to higher densities in cove areas, and then become distributed to lower densities within a short amount of time. If the water looks particularly dense, stay out of that area, but if it looks low, the risk should be low. Some folks compare it to a night sky - if it looks like a starry night, the risk is low, but if it looks like a galaxy consider staying out of the water and keeping pets out.

The Alert will remain active for a week unless further reports of cyanobacteria are received. NHDES will resample if worsening conditions are reported. NHDES urges lake users to perform visual assessments of the water prior to recreating.

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Kate Langley Hastings
Cyanobacteria HAB Program Coordinator
Watershed Management Bureau, Water Division
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services
29 Hazen Drive, P.O. Box 95, Concord, NH 03302-0095
603-848-8094   kate.l.hastings@des.nh.gov

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