Algae Bloom Clears in Fort Pond

As of Oct. 17, a blue-green algae bloom in Montauk's Fort Pond had cleared, according to Concerned Citizens of Montauk, which has been monitoring the pond in partnership with the Gobler Lab at Stony Brook Southampton, "but the risk of a bloom remains."

C.C.O.M. assigned a medium risk to the Industrial Road side of Fort Pond and a high risk to the boat ramp area on the south side of the pond. Samples will be tested again next week.

C.C.O.M. is also partnering with the Surfrider Foundation's Blue Water Task Force to test water bodies in Montauk, Amagansett, and East Hampton for the enterococcus bacteria. Testing this week showed improvements over samples taken the week of Oct. 8, with only six of 23 test sites showing medium to high bacterial levels (earlier this month 14 of 25 sites had medium to high levels).

High entero levels were detected at one site on Lake Montauk, at Pussy's Pond in Springs, in Hook Pond near Dunemere Road, and in Georgica Pond near the kayak launch off Route 27. Medium levels were found at a separate site in Lake Montauk and on the beach side of Georgica Pond.

High entero levels, which are considered a risk to human health, can be caused by heavy rains, extreme high tides, and warm temperatures. With the most recent round of tests, "A full moon high tide most likely explains the elevated bacteria in the creeks at the south end of Lake Montauk, as well as Pussy’s Pond," according to Kate Rossi-Snook, an environmental advocate with C.C.O.M. The next sampling for enterococcus will be done the week of Nov. 5.