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BRIEF: Red House Lake joins list of inland waters with suspected toxic algae

Buffalo News - 7/17/2017

July 17--It looks like toxic blue-green algae has returned to Red House Lake at Allegany State Park.

A suspicious small localized algal bloom was spotted Friday, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

The visual report has not yet been confirmed by a laboratory sample.

The lake is one of seven lakes or other bodies of water across the state added to an updated DEC list with confirmed or suspected reports of toxic algae. There are 35 in all.

Others in Western New York include:

* Java Lake in Wyoming County, which was "confirmed with high toxins."

* Chautauqua Lake where a large, localized hazardous algal bloom was confirmed last Thursday.

* The Allegheny Reservoir where "widespread, lakewide" toxic algae was reported last Tuesday.

Small areas of toxic algae have been recurrent at Red House Lake in recent years. This is the first report of it in 2017.

Red House Lake, a 110-acre man-made lake, is expected to be drawn down this month so crews can make necessary repairs to the aging dam.

It will be lowered by about 8 feet as part of a $6 million dam rehabilitation project, according to state officials.

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