Report on Harmful Algal Bloom Outbreak and its Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Incident Overview

An unusually severe Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) has been identified in Sylvan Beach, New York, prompting local authorities to issue a public advisory against swimming. The village has officially described the event as the most significant bloom in over a decade. The adjacent Verona Beach State Park has also experienced similar water quality issues, leading to the closure of its swimming areas. These blooms, which manifest as discolored water or surface scum, present a direct threat to public and environmental health.

Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The proliferation of HABs in this region directly undermines progress toward several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The primary public health advisory to avoid all contact with the contaminated water underscores the immediate threat to human and animal health. Exposure to toxins produced by HABs can cause a range of negative health effects, directly conflicting with the goal of ensuring healthy lives for all.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The presence of HABs is a clear indicator of compromised water quality. These events highlight challenges in managing nutrient pollution and maintaining the ecological health of water bodies, which are central tenets of SDG 6.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: HABs severely degrade aquatic ecosystems by depleting oxygen levels and releasing toxins harmful to fish and other aquatic organisms. This incident represents a significant threat to the local freshwater biodiversity and the overall health of the aquatic environment.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The closure of public recreational areas like Sylvan Beach and Verona Beach State Park negatively impacts community well-being, local tourism, and the economy. Ensuring access to safe and inclusive green and blue spaces is a key target within this goal.

Public Advisory and Official Recommendations

In response to the environmental and public health risks, the following directives and recommendations have been issued:

1. All individuals, pets, and livestock must avoid contact with the water in affected areas, particularly where it is discolored or has floating mats or scum on the surface.
2. The public is encouraged to report any suspected HABs to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC).
3. Reports can be submitted via the official NYSDEC online reporting system or by email to facilitate monitoring and response efforts.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

This goal is directly relevant as the article warns about the “negative health effects in both people and animals” caused by Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). The explicit advice for “People, pets, and livestock should avoid all contact with water” underscores the immediate threat to public and animal health.

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The core issue discussed is water pollution. The presence of HABs, described as the “worst bloom they’ve had in more than 10 years,” signifies a severe degradation of water quality in Sylvan Beach, making it unsafe for recreational activities like swimming.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The article highlights the impact on public spaces within a community. The closure of swimming at “Sylvan Beach” and the nearby “Verona Beach State Park” represents a loss of access to safe and inclusive green and public spaces, affecting the well-being and recreational opportunities of the local population.

SDG 14: Life Below Water & SDG 15: Life on Land

These goals are connected as HABs are a symptom of a distressed aquatic ecosystem (an inland freshwater lake, relevant to SDG 15.1) and are caused by pollution, often from land-based activities (relevant to SDG 14.1). The bloom itself harms life within the water, and the article notes the danger to terrestrial life (“pets, and livestock”) that may come into contact with the water.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination. The article’s focus on the “negative health effects” from the HABs directly relates to this target of preventing illness from water contamination.
2. Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution. The presence of HABs is a direct result of pollution (typically nutrient pollution). Addressing the root cause of the blooms aligns with this target.
3. Target 6.6: By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including… lakes. The article describes a lake ecosystem suffering from the “worst bloom… in more than 10 years,” indicating a need for protection and restoration.
4. Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces. The closure of swimming at Sylvan Beach and Verona Beach State Park is a direct failure to provide safe access to these public recreational areas.
5. Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including… nutrient pollution. Although the article discusses a lake, this target’s principle of reducing nutrient pollution from land-based sources is the primary way to prevent HABs.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Frequency, extent, and severity of Harmful Algal Blooms: The article provides a qualitative measurement by stating this is the “worst bloom they’ve had in more than 10 years.” The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (NYSDEC) reporting system is a mechanism to collect data that would quantify this indicator. This measures progress towards Target 6.3 and 6.6.
• Number of days public swimming areas are closed due to water quality issues: The article explicitly states that Sylvan Beach is “warning people to avoid swimming” and that Verona Beach State Park has also had “closing swimming as well.” Tracking the number of closure days serves as a direct indicator for Target 11.7.
• Number of reported health incidents related to water contamination: While the article does not state any specific cases, it warns of “negative health effects.” An implied indicator would be the tracking of human or animal illnesses linked to HAB exposure, which would measure progress towards Target 3.9.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: cnycentral.com