Syracuse, N.Y. -- Four regional summits will be held in Upstate New York over the next month to talk about toxic algae blooms.

The summits are part of the state's $65 million effort to help control the blooms, found in 150 water bodies in New York in 2017.

Each of the regional summits will have a panel of experts to talk about the algae blooms and answer questions from the public. All are free and open to the public, with free parking.

The topic of blue-green algae blooms, which are actually caused by a bacteria, has gained increased urgency over the past few years as reported blooms have increased around the state. Last year was particularly bad because heavy rains in the summer washed nutrients into lakes, and then warm, calm fall weather helped the blooms develop,

Skaneateles Lake, the source of unfiltered water for the city of Syracuse, had a toxic algae bloom for the first time in recent memory.

All four summits will run from 6 to 8 p.m. The dates and locations are:

Tuesday, Feb. 27. SUNY New Paltz Student Union Multi-Purpose Room, 2nd Floor.

Tuesday, March 6. SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Gateway Center Building, Syracuse.

Tuesday, March 20. Best Western Ticonderoga.

Monday, March 26. R. Thomas Flynn Campus Center, SUNY Monroe Community College, Rochester.

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