Island boards of health, working in conjunction with the Great Pond Foundation, issued the summer’s first cyanobacteria bloom watch notices last week.
Health agents and water quality experts have identified cyanobacteria blooms across Martha’s Vineyard, closing parts of Squibnocket Pond and issuing warnings about the toxic blue-green algae.
Dredging and intensive study are part of a new project for Chilmark Pond, as two foundations have joined forces to develop a science-driven restoration plan for the pond.
When Dr. Jim Haney, a professor of biological science at the University of New Hampshire, first saw the results of cyanobacteria sampling from six of the Island's coastal ponds, he thought there had been a mistake.
Preliminary sampling and analysis from researchers with the University of New Hampshire have revealed high levels of dangerous toxins from cyanobacteriain many of the Island’s ponds.
A person who went crabbing in Chilmark Pond was sickened by what appears to be a neurotoxin from blue/green algae blooms in the water, according to Chilmark health officials.