In some New York City parks, however, their presence may be traced to the city’s municipal water supply, which feeds a number of water bodies. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has tracked the presence of so-called harmful algal blooms since 2012, and this year, the season is off to a robust start. “By August, we usually have 70 to 80 ponds and lakes on the list,” said Rebecca Gorney, a research scientist for the department, which has no oversight of New York City parks. The presence of phosphate in the water source of the lakes in New York City parks has limited the options for addressing blue-green algae. But in Prospect Park, where the 60-acre artificial lake is fed by a mile-long water course, including four man-made waterfalls, park officials are poised to try something new.

Source: New York Times July 07, 2017 23:19 UTC