Hazardous bacterial bloom hitting US lakes is a danger to people and pets, officials warn
The summer vacation spoiler has been identified as a cyanobacterial bloom — and the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) says that the crummy blue-green conditions seem to be spreading, with a noticeable increase in scale since Aug. 2.
Currently, the contamination stretches approximately 160 miles and impacts coastal communities, ranging from Monroe, Michigan, to Port Clinton, Ohio.
The Buckeye State's beloved Sandusky Bay is an especially adversely affected area and has comparatively strong concentrations of cyanobacteria — and cyanotoxins, a byproduct of the microorganisms — in the lake water.
The Ohio Department of Health has advised residents and visitors along the western shore of Lake Erie to keep out of the water due to 'unsafe levels' of bacterial contamination.
In concentrated amounts, cyanotoxins can result in mild conditions ranging from diarrhea, headaches and skin irritation to more serious, life-threatening states depending on prior conditions, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Lake Erie is a popular weekend getaway destination for Midwesterners and New Yorkers alike looking to beat the heat for a few days.
Jacek Chabraszewski – stock.adobe.com
'If you see scum, keep your pets and yourself out of the water,' urged the NCCOS in a statement.
The organization also said that the bloom can be particularly intense during certain weather conditions.
During calm, low wind periods, it gathers on the surface as 'scum,' rather than being broken up by the Great Lake's raucous waves.
The NCCOS maintains that over the past decade or so, concentrated cyanobacteria sightings in Lake Erie have become more common, especially from June to October.
The EPA explained that the microorganisms are 'very important to aquatic ecosystems' because they are photosynthetic — which is why conditions are worse in summertime — and support marine food webs; however, excessive growth can lead to concerns for aquatic and human health alike.
Bearing that in mind, those looking to watch where they wade this summer can take a peek at a consistently updated map of Lake Erie by NCCOS that specifically monitors algal blooms.
Lake Erie is also commonly recognized as the most polluted of the Great Lakes, per research by the University of Michigan.
SVDPhoto – stock.adobe.com
While the recent blooms don't impact lakegoers in New York, The Empire State has been exposed to its own fair share of aquatic advisories this summer — even trendy Hamptons beaches have been affected.
Windmill Beach in Sag Harbor was rated the 7th worst bacteria-rated beach in the U.S. this year, per a report from Surfrider Foundation — and just two years back, the EPA reported that over half of New York beaches are contaminated by sewage and feces.
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New York Post
4 days ago
- New York Post
Hazardous bacterial bloom hitting US lakes is a danger to people and pets, officials warn
No need for vacationers to test the waters here, experts say. The summer vacation spoiler has been identified as a cyanobacterial bloom — and the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) says that the crummy blue-green conditions seem to be spreading, with a noticeable increase in scale since Aug. 2. Currently, the contamination stretches approximately 160 miles and impacts coastal communities, ranging from Monroe, Michigan, to Port Clinton, Ohio. The Buckeye State's beloved Sandusky Bay is an especially adversely affected area and has comparatively strong concentrations of cyanobacteria — and cyanotoxins, a byproduct of the microorganisms — in the lake water. The Ohio Department of Health has advised residents and visitors along the western shore of Lake Erie to keep out of the water due to 'unsafe levels' of bacterial contamination. In concentrated amounts, cyanotoxins can result in mild conditions ranging from diarrhea, headaches and skin irritation to more serious, life-threatening states depending on prior conditions, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Lake Erie is a popular weekend getaway destination for Midwesterners and New Yorkers alike looking to beat the heat for a few days. Jacek Chabraszewski – 'If you see scum, keep your pets and yourself out of the water,' urged the NCCOS in a statement. The organization also said that the bloom can be particularly intense during certain weather conditions. During calm, low wind periods, it gathers on the surface as 'scum,' rather than being broken up by the Great Lake's raucous waves. The NCCOS maintains that over the past decade or so, concentrated cyanobacteria sightings in Lake Erie have become more common, especially from June to October. The EPA explained that the microorganisms are 'very important to aquatic ecosystems' because they are photosynthetic — which is why conditions are worse in summertime — and support marine food webs; however, excessive growth can lead to concerns for aquatic and human health alike. Bearing that in mind, those looking to watch where they wade this summer can take a peek at a consistently updated map of Lake Erie by NCCOS that specifically monitors algal blooms. Lake Erie is also commonly recognized as the most polluted of the Great Lakes, per research by the University of Michigan. SVDPhoto – While the recent blooms don't impact lakegoers in New York, The Empire State has been exposed to its own fair share of aquatic advisories this summer — even trendy Hamptons beaches have been affected. Windmill Beach in Sag Harbor was rated the 7th worst bacteria-rated beach in the U.S. this year, per a report from Surfrider Foundation — and just two years back, the EPA reported that over half of New York beaches are contaminated by sewage and feces.
New York Post
6 days ago
- New York Post
Futuristic air-taxi firm Joby expands NYC, global footprint with $125M deal as it nears fed certification for passengers
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'With access to the infrastructure they have secured and the loyal customer base they have developed, we will be in the best possible position to launch our quiet, electric aircraft as soon as certification is secured,' Joby Aviation CEO and founder JoeBen Bevirt said in a statement. 5 The aerospace company rolled out a prototype to display in Grand Central Station, giving a glimpse of the craft that could soar New Yorkers above clogged roads and crowded subways. scott rounds The aerospace company rolled out a prototype to display in Grand Central Station, giving a glimpse of the craft that could soar New Yorkers above clogged roads and crowded subways from lower Manhattan to catch a departing flight at JFK Airport in under seven minutes. Blade will add terminal spaces at JFK and Newark Liberty Airport to Joby's infrastructure, in addition to other bases for takeoff and landing on the East Side and West Side of Manhattan as well as Wall Street. President Trump had signed an executive order in June launching a pilot program for air taxis, also known as eVTOLs, that spurred Joby and other firms to seek federal certifications for flying passengers commercially. 5 'With access to the infrastructure they have secured and the loyal customer base they have developed, we will be in the best possible position to launch our quiet, electric aircraft as soon as certification is secured,' said Joby Aviation CEO And founder JoeBen Bevirt in a statement. Getty Images for Reindustrialize Conference With the new acquisition, Joby is in a better position to begin rolling out its own commercial flights next year and eventually make commuting like 'The Jetsons' in the vertical-takeoff aircraft a feature of everyday life. As of June, the electric air taxi firm reached 80% compliance in the final stage of its certification process with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after having secured hundreds of millions of dollars in investments in recent years from companies including Uber, Toyota and Delta. That included an exclusive partnership that will let passengers book flights around town from the ride-sharing platform's app — now with the addition of the Blade app following Monday's agreement. 5 'It's crystal clear from their progress on certification to the successful demonstration flights in New York and Dubai that this is the best possible home for our fliers, our team and our partner,' said Rob Wiesenthal, Blade's CEO. Other leading eVTOL makers include Beta Technologies and Archer Aviation. 'It's crystal clear from their progress on certification to the successful demonstration flights in New York and Dubai that this is the best possible home for our fliers, our team and our partner,' said Rob Wiesenthal, Blade's CEO, who will remain in charge of the passenger business at Joby. As part of the agreement, which will be finalized in the coming weeks, the New York-based company will restructure its medical transport division — one of the largest transporters of human organs for procedures — as Strata Critical Medical, a separate, publicly traded company chaired by Wiesenthal. 5 The deal will allow Joby aircraft to be the preferred partner for its medical missions, which accounted for the majority of Blade's revenue. 'Blade's mission since inception has been to accelerate the transition from traditional rotorcraft to electric aircraft,' he said. 'There is no stronger company than Joby to help make this mission a reality, for the benefit of all our stakeholders, including our fliers, employees, partners, and the cities we serve.' The deal will allow Joby aircraft to be the preferred partner for its medical missions, which accounted for the majority of Blade's revenue. Some Republicans and sources close to the White House had indicated Joby's financial ties to billionaire Reid Hoffman — a known anti-Trump, Silicon Valley donor who backed Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024 — could have been a stumbling block in the certification process. 5 Some Republicans and sources close to the White House had indicated Joby's financial ties to billionaire Reid Hoffman, a known anti-Trump, Silicon Valley donor who backed Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024. REUTERS A Joby spokesperson previously told The Post that the company, founded in 2009, had 'been actively engaged with the Administration, including the White House, DOT and legislators on certification' and 'received strong, bipartisan support across the board. But Hoffman, who provided some initial seed funding nearly four years ago as part of a SPAC deal, was replaced on Joby's board last year by investor Michael Thompson, who donated $200,000 to Tesla CEO Elon Musk's America PAC to help re-elect Trump in June 2024, Federal Election Commission filings show. Thompson has spurred the imaginations of innovators by suggesting that, along with the first passenger flights on its aircraft, Joby could replicate the Wright Brothers take off from the White House in 1911 — and land one of the firm's air taxis on the South Lawn before Trump leaves office.
New York Post
30-07-2025
- New York Post
‘Secret' beach just a short ride from NYC named third best in US — and swimsuits are optional
Sun's out, buns out. New Yorkers looking to beat the heat — and get naked — needn't look much farther than the Big Apple. BoatBooker, an international boat activity service, has named the most underrated beaches in the country — and a Garden State entry made the list. Advertisement Gunnison Beach, located in Sandy Hook, came in third place thanks to its sprawling shores and top-tier views of New York City, located just across the water. However, the skyline sights are far from the only spectacle this seaside destination offers. Gunnison is also the only clothing-optional beach in Jersey, making it a popular place for people with a particular penchant for naturalism. Advertisement 3 Gunnison Beach was the only Northeast spot to snag a top ranking on the list. Scenic Corner – Gunnison Beach has been a favorite of naked New Jerseyans since the '70s. However, the National Park Service advises that beach bums keep a close eye on posted signs to ensure they're not caught wandering au naturel out of bounds, as they could be slapped with a disorderly conduct charge. 3 The sandy stretch has plenty of signs about the clothing-optional culture. Steven Hirsch Advertisement 3 Sandy Hook also has plenty of other beaches for the clothing-inclined, but they may be swarmed by summer crowds. John McAdorey – Not only is it clothing-optional, it's also a close commute for New Yorkers and Jerseyites alike. During the summer months, beachgoers can hop on a ferry from lower Manhattan to get to Sandy Hook in an hour or so. New York has its own highly-ranked beaches to be sure, but this season, the most sought-after spots in the Hamptons have become costlier and more crowded than ever before. Advertisement A simple weekend getaway can cost thousands of dollars, plus hours on the highways in traffic. Aside from the New Jersey beach that took bronze, sandy spots in South Carolina and California fared favorably. In fact, aside from Gunnison, literally no other beaches beat out the top-tier Palmetto and Golden State shores. While these hidden gem spots may boast sprawling, crowd-free sands, many listed areas — Gunnison Beach included — do not have lifeguards on duty. Top underrated beaches in the U.S. in 2025 Vereen Memorial Park, South Carolina Driftwood Beach, South Carolina Gunnison Beach, New Jersey Morris Island, South Carolina Torrey Pines City Beach, California Caswell Beach, North Carolina Dana Strands Beach, California Pirates Cove Beach, California Station 22 – Public Beach Access, South Carolina Edisto Beach State Park Campground, South Carolina Amid a wave of high-profile drownings as a result of coastal rip currents, experts advise beachgoers to monitor weather and wave conditions closely. Kaitlin Krause, the founder of the NYC-based rip current education non-profit Rising Tide Effect, previously told The Post that 'untrained rescuers often become victims themselves,' and advised onlookers to call 911 immediately, and said that 'if you must assist, throw something that floats, like a life ring, buoy or cooler.'
