State REMOVES Cyanobacteria Advisory for Cobbetts Pond in Windham, NH

Concord, NH - The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (DES) has REMOVED a cyanobacteria advisory for Cobbetts Pond that was issued on 7/30/2020. Cyanobacteria advisories are issued when concentrations exceed 70,000 cells/ml. There have been no reported sightings of the bloom since the first week of August. Samples collected on August 5th and August 18th did not contain a cyanobacterial bloom. NHDES advises that lake-goers look out for green surface accumulations in the future. Please continue to monitor your individual shoreline for changing conditions.

This advisory was not based on a toxin evaluation and was intended as a precautionary measure for short term exposure. Cyanobacteria are natural components of water bodies worldwide, though blooms and surface scums may form when excess nutrients are available to the water.  Some cyanobacteria produce toxins that are stored within the cells and released upon cell death. Toxins can cause both acute and chronic health effects that range in severity.  Acute health effects include irritation of skin and mucous membranes, tingling, numbness, nausea, vomiting, seizures and diarrhea. Chronic effects may include liver and central nervous system damage. Be cautious of lake water that has a surface scum, changes colors, or appears to have green streaks or blue-green flecks aggregating along the shore.

The advisory went into effect on July 30, 2020 and reportedly dissipated by August 5, 2020.