The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announced Wednesday that the blue-green algae advisory at Smith and Sayles Reservoir in Glocester has been lifted. The advisory was issued due to high levels of blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria, which were detected in the water.
According to RIDOH and DEM, recent consecutive surveys and sample analyses confirmed that blue-green algae levels are now at acceptably low levels and cyanotoxin, a toxin produced by some types of blue-green algae, is not present in detectable concentrations. These findings meet the advisory guidelines, prompting the decision to lift the advisory.
However, the agencies caution that blue-green algae conditions can change rapidly, and it is possible for blooms to reoccur in Smith and Sayles Reservoir or other Rhode Island water bodies. The public is advised to avoid contact with any water body that appears bright green or has a dense, floating algal mat on the surface. Blue-green algae blooms can resemble green paint or thick pea soup. Toxins may remain in the water even after a bloom is no longer visible.
For updated information on current advisories, visit RIDEM’s website at www.dem.ri.gov/bluegreen. To report suspected blue-green algae blooms, contact RIDEM’s Office of Water Resources at 222-4700 or DEM.OWRCyano@dem.ri.gov.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.
