After a weeklong reprieve, the harmful algae bloom in the Allegheny Reservoir is increasing in severity.
According to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers water quality unit, huge increases were seen in cell counts near Bearclaw in Quaker Bay and Wolf Run, while increases were seen at Highbanks Launch, Peters Creek and Sawmill Bay at Onoville Marina. The only place where a decrease in cell counts was noted was at Moebanks, where the count was 1,718 cells/mL, which counts as no harmful algae found.
The algae samples were collected by Elisa Parker of the Seneca Nation on Oct. 1, according to Rose Reilly, water quality unit lead. As a result of analyses, she reported that cyanobacteria — bluegreen algae — cell counts were at World Health Organization caution level in the reservoir near Bearclaw, Highbanks, Wolf Run and Sawmill Bay; at the advisory level near Peters Creek and at the No HAB level near Moebanks.
At Bearclaw, the results shows a cell count of 7,913,345 cells/mL, up from 121,035 cells/mL on Sept. 24. At Wolf Run, the cell count was 6,363,154 cell/mL, up from 102,764 cells/mL a week earlier.
At Highbanks, the cell count was 815,283 cells/mL, up from 110,431 at the last testing period. Near Peters Creek, the cell count was 79,625 cells/mL, an increase from 29,651 cells/mL. At Sawmill Bay, the measurement showed 112,444 cells/mL, up from 80,849 cells/mL.
Caution signs are still up at Lowbanks, Bearclaw, Highbanks and Wolf Run, while a new caution sign was placed at Sawmill Bay. Advisory signs are in place at Moebanks and Peters Creek.
