A large crowd of concerned residents gathered in the Skaneateles High School auditorium on Oct. 4 to discuss the recent algae bloom in Skaneateles Lake.

The event, put on by the Skaneateles High School Environmental Club, included short lectures and a panel discussion.

The algae bloom, which appeared in mid-September, raised concerns of potential health risks to those using the water. The bloom is especially shocking to long-time Skaneateles residents, who know their lake as being especially clean and clear, and long considered the lake to be "invincible" to algae.

"We have had a serious wake-up call," Robert Warner, former SUNY-ESF professor, said.

A panel discusses the recent algae bloom at Skaneateles Lake on October 5 at Skaneateles High School.

Both Warner and a current SUNY-ESF professor, Gregory Boyer, gave short informational presentations about the outbreak. The main topics discussed were what caused the bloom, if it's harmful and what can be done to prevent another one from occurring.

The primary cause of the algae bloom was a heavy storm on July 1 that sent a "shocking" amount of water to Skaneateles Lake, raising the phosphorus levels in the lake. Phosphorus is a nutrient that is needed to create algae, Warner said, and the storm raised levels enough that an algae bloom occurred.

Warner blames climate change for the heavy rain event, and says a similar event will likely happen again in the near future.

Boyer has been working on blue-green algae blooms, like the one in Skaneateles, for over 40 years. He said the algae, known as cyanobacteria, often look like "spilled paint" on the water. As the algae decomposes, it creates a white foam, which currently is visible on Skaneateles Lake.

"Even though you can't always see it, it's still there," he said.

There are thousands of types of blue-green algae, and less than 1 percent has toxins, said Boyer. So far, only one toxin has been found in Skaneateles --microcystin, a liver toxin.

Not only is the algae bad for the ecosystem of the lake, it can drive away business and slow tourism to the lake. It can also be harmful for pets and humans who come in contact with it said Boyer.

"If you see a bloom, I would just avoid it," he said.

However, "the drinking water has never been at the levels where it is unsafe to drink."

Both Warner and Boyer said the four factors that create an ideal environment for the algae to survive are sunlight, tranquil waters, nutrients and warm temperatures.

Because residents are unable to control most of the factors, they should instead focus on the nutrients entering the lake.

Andy Zepp, the executive director of the Finger Lakes Land Trust, said it's "all about reducing runoff."

He suggested during the panel that residents should lower the amount of fertilizer they use on their lawns, and check to make sure their septic tanks are working properly.

If neighbors wanted to take a step further, they could consider installing a raingarden if they have any steep slopes on their property to stop runoff after storms.

"It's not about the quick fixes," Zepp said. "Something needs to be done."