Cyanobacteria Warning for Pawtuckaway Lake Removed on June 6

The cyanobacteria warning at your lake has been removed, please see below for details.

 

Waterbody Pawtuckaway Lake, Nottingham
Status Warning REMOVED
Issued 5/28/2025
Removed 6/6/2025
Notes Samples were collected around the waterbody (including the State Park beach, town beach, and near the dam) on 6/5/2025. The cyanobacteria density ranged from 400 – 11,400 cells/mL, which is below our recreational threshold of 70,000 cells/mL. All samples were mixed heavily with pollen. As a reminder, it is best practice to avoid recreating in any surface scum as there is potential for cyanobacteria to be mixed in.
   

 

Please visit the Healthy Swimming Mapper for the most current information about bloom location, status, and severity .

 

Cyanobacteria reports depict only what an observer sees in the water. The report may reflect a waterbody wide perspective if they boated around the waterbody and made observations, or it could be a single sighting from the shoreline. One sighting does not indicate that a watch or warning is necessary, but it does indicate that those on or around the waterbody should be aware that cyanobacteria have been observed beyond what is natural, and that they should be on the lookout for shifting bloom conditions and report them via the Bloom Report Form

 

Watches are issued when samples are evaluated and cyanobacteria are in higher abundance than normal background levels at multiple locations, but that densities are below 70,000 cells/mL or when clear photographic evidence indicates a bloom is occurring.

 

Warnings are issued when samples are evaluated microscopically, and cell counts exceed 70,000 cells/mL and the bloom is widespread or extends to multiple locations on the waterbody. A warning does not close the waterbody to recreational use. The warning is intended as a precautionary measure to inform the public of the potential health risks associated with cyanobacteria blooms. Please see our updated FAQs for more information.

 

NHDES advises lake users to not swim in or near the vicinity of where bloom material is visible. Please also keep pets and livestock out of areas where bloom material is observed. It is suggested that local authorities post the 2025 cyanobacteria sign at public access points while a warning is in place to alert the public of current conditions.

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