Lawmakers are trying to force the state to act as more beaches are closed due to bacterial contamination

State lawmakers representing Putnam County are trying to force the state Department of Environmental Protection to do more than just warn New Yorkers about harmful algal blooms that are causing beach closures.

With the help of new laws, they want to force the DEC to go beyond mere monitoring and data collection and initiate remediation projects.

The Lake Peekskill Improvement District in Putnam Valley has used all resources at its disposal to keep HAB levels at safe levels at all three of the lake’s beaches.

LPID employee Jeremy Whalen said more resources are needed to limit the damage.

“It doesn’t seem to be getting any better,” Whalen said. “So we have to try something (else).”

Contact with HABs can cause nausea and respiratory problems in humans and death in some animals.

Rep. Matt Slater and State Senator Rob Rolison held a press conference in Putnam Valley Friday morning to discuss the bill that would classify HABs as water pollutants.

They said the new classification would force the DEC to finally treat HABs as pollutants, which would include cleanup projects and assistance to low-budget municipalities to control algae.

“Anything is worth a try,” Whalen said. “You know, all these people pay so much tax money to use the lake and they can’t use it.”

The state closely monitors HABs throughout the state and notifies the public about HABs, but has not released appropriate funds for remediation projects.

Representative Slater said projects to convert homes near water sources from septic tanks to sewerage were particularly needed.

The DEC, legislators and Putnam Valley officials have agreed for years that sewer system modifications and improvements are needed to minimize the amount of wastewater discharged into the drain.

The wastewater that may enter drinking water sources or recreational lakes typically contains nutrients that feed the HABs.

“We know they need sewers. They know they need sewers,” Slater said. “They’ve already done a study on sewers. In a 2018 report, the state said, ‘Hey, guess what. You need sewers.’ Well, thanks.”

Brian Duffy of the DEC’s water division told News 12 in a Zoom interview Friday morning that the agency is still researching the best mitigation methods and is doing much more than just monitoring HABs and collecting data.

“I think we are well positioned to move these strategies forward,” Duffy said. “Additional legislation is not necessarily a helpful proposal to address HABs nationwide.”

The other factor that neither the DEC nor legislators can control is that HABs thrive in heat.

The News 12 weather team is expecting daytime temperatures of 90 degrees Fahrenheit for most of next week.

Putnam Valley and Putnam County authorities also expect to have to close additional recreational areas where HABs have gotten out of control.

Four beaches in Putnam County are currently closed.