LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — Councilman Dr. Paul Salzberg said at the June 12 meeting of the Cochecton Town Board that chemical treatment of Lake Huntington is set to begin this summer.

 Discussion of the copper sulfate treatments, designed to arrest a toxic algae bloom, will take place during the Lake Huntington Lake Association’s (LHLA) annual meeting at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 6, in Lakeview Pizzeria at 23 Crestwood Rd.

The public is invited to attend the LHLA meeting, where details of the treatment will be discussed, along with how, when and for how long recreational activities will be curtailed during and after the treatment. Salzberg said he hopes that the Lake Huntington summer community and all other stakeholders who use the lake for fishing and recreation will join the LHLA lakefront property owners for the meeting. At stake is the lake’s health, beauty and sustainability, he said.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation detected the algae bloom four years ago, as documented in a 2015 water quality summary report. The report used information from three water samples taken from June through September of that year (www.bit.ly/lakequalitysummary). As noted in the report, nutrient runoff from properties surrounding the lake is the prime underlying cause of the bloom. Left untreated, the bloom can kill fish and other wildlife and may pose health risks for people using the lake for recreational purposes.

Donations toward the cost of the copper sulfate treatment will be accepted.

In other ecological business, the board reported collection of 250 discarded tires during May cleanup days. Supervisor Gary Maas said 2019 cleanup days were the busiest this board has seen.

The board recessed until June 24 at 6 p.m., when it will meet to discuss purchase of big-ticket highway department equipment.