Report on Water Quality and Public Health Advisory at Oneida Lake

Incident Summary

• Location: Verona Beach State Park, situated on the eastern shore of Oneida Lake, New York.
• Status: An indefinite closure of the park’s swimming areas has been in effect since Saturday. No projected date for reopening has been announced.
• Cause: The closure was mandated due to the detection of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the water.
• Related Advisory: At the proximate Sylvan Beach, while the water remains officially open, authorities have issued advisories urging the public to refrain from entering the water.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The closure of Verona Beach is a necessary public health intervention to protect citizens from the potential health risks associated with HABs, which can include skin, liver, and neurological issues. This action directly aligns with ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages.
2. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: This event underscores a critical challenge to water quality management. The presence of algal blooms indicates nutrient pollution, which compromises the safety of water bodies for recreational use and threatens ecosystem health, directly conflicting with the goal of ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water.
3. SDG 14: Life Below Water: Algal blooms have a destructive impact on aquatic ecosystems. They deplete oxygen levels, leading to hypoxic conditions that can cause fish kills and harm other aquatic life. This incident highlights the urgent need to address land-based pollution to conserve and sustainably use aquatic resources, as outlined in SDG 14.
4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The closure of a public recreational space like a state park impacts community access to safe and inclusive green spaces. Ensuring the environmental health of such areas is fundamental to fostering sustainable and resilient communities where residents can enjoy a high quality of life.

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

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article mentions that Verona Beach State Park is closed and officials are “urging people for days to stay out” of the water at nearby Sylvan Beach. This directly relates to protecting human health from the potential dangers of harmful algal blooms, which can cause skin irritation, gastrointestinal illness, and other health problems.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  The core issue reported is the presence of “algae blooms” in Oneida Lake. Algal blooms are a clear sign of water quality degradation, which is a central concern of SDG 6. The goal aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water, and the bloom indicates a failure in protecting this water body from pollution.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The closure of “Verona Beach State Park,” a public recreational area, impacts the community’s access to green and public spaces. This connects to the goal of making human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, which includes providing access to such amenities.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  Although Oneida Lake is a freshwater body, the principles of SDG 14 are relevant. The goal aims to conserve and sustainably use oceans, seas, and marine resources. The issue of algal blooms, often caused by land-based nutrient pollution, is a key concern addressed by this goal in its aim to reduce all kinds of pollution affecting aquatic ecosystems.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  This goal includes the protection and restoration of inland freshwater ecosystems. The article’s focus on an “algae bloom” at “Oneida Lake” highlights a threat to a freshwater ecosystem, directly connecting to the targets within SDG 15 aimed at conserving and restoring such environments.

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 warning for people to stay out of the water is a preventative measure against illnesses caused by water contamination from the algal bloom.

2. Target 6.3

   “By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution…” The presence of an “algae bloom” is a direct result of pollution and poor water quality, which this target aims to address.

3. Target 6.6

   “By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including… lakes.” The situation at Oneida Lake demonstrates a failure to protect this freshwater ecosystem, highlighting the need for restoration efforts as outlined in this target.

4. Target 11.7

   “By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces…” The closure of Verona Beach State Park due to a safety hazard (algae bloom) signifies a temporary loss of access to a public space, which this target seeks to guarantee.

5. Target 14.1

   “By 2030, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including… nutrient pollution.” Algal blooms are typically caused by nutrient pollution from land-based sources. The event described in the article is a direct example of the type of pollution this target aims to reduce.

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

1. Presence of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)

   The article explicitly states the park was closed for “algae blooms.” The frequency, duration, and extent of such blooms serve as a direct indicator of poor water quality, relevant to measuring progress on Target 6.3 (improving water quality).

2. Beach Closure Advisories

   The fact that the park “has been closed” and officials are “urging people for days to stay out” of the water acts as an indicator. The number of days a public beach is closed due to pollution can measure the impact on public health (Target 3.9) and access to public spaces (Target 11.7).

3. Degradation of a Freshwater Ecosystem

   The algal bloom itself is an indicator of the poor health of the Oneida Lake ecosystem. This relates to indicators for Target 6.6 and Target 15.1, which track the extent and condition of water-related ecosystems.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: syracuse.com