Credit: Patrick Grego
The swimming and boating lakes at Wilcox Memorial Park in Stanfordville reopened last Friday, after being closed due to a blue-green algal bloom, which posed potential health risks to humans and animals. Dutchess County Parks, in collaboration with the Department of Behavioral & Community Health, has taken extensive precautionary measures to treat and test the lakes, ensuring a safe environment for all visitors.
Amber McCarghy, a resident of Red Hook, expressed her excitement about the reopening. “I think it’s awesome for the community, and it being a free park for residents and non-residents is a great attribute,” she said. “My daughter is loving it,” she added, watching her child enjoy swimming in the newly reopened lake.
The lakes were closed from July 5 to July 19 to address the algal bloom, a recurring issue at Wilcox Park and across the region. Blue-green algae, which can be toxic, often proliferates due to a combination of high heat, humidity, rain, and excess nutrients from sources like septic systems and agricultural runoff. While climate change is expected to increase the frequency of these blooms, efforts to manage nutrient levels in the water can help mitigate their occurrence.
“Blooms of blue-green algae are common and have become more prevalent in natural bodies of water in the Northeast,” said Colleen Pillus, communications director for Dutchess County. “High heat, humidity, rain, and other natural factors play a part in the algae’s growth and have been seen in many other ponds and lakes throughout Dutchess County and surrounding counties. We continue to work on ways to prevent future blooms and treat the lake as necessary to ensure everyone’s health and safety as well as their enjoyment of the park.”
Jen Phillips from the Bard Center for Environmental Policy highlighted the impact of climate change on algae blooms. “With climate change leading to extended periods of warmer water, there’s a potential for more blooms. However, addressing the nutrient loading problem can help control this issue. Warm temperatures alone do not cause algal blooms if there is no excess ‘food’ in the water.”
According to Colleen Pillus, Dutchess County Parks is committed to ongoing efforts to prevent future blooms and treat the lakes as needed.
For updates on the reopening and other information, residents are encouraged to check the Dutchess County Parks Facebook page and the Wilcox Park webpage. In addition to swimming and boating, Wilcox Park offers a variety of amenities and activities, detailed on their official webpage here.