Officials recommend lifting swimming restrictions at Slacks Reservoir

SMITHFIELD, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Island officials recommended lifting swimming restrictions at Slacks Reservoir Little Beach in Greenville on Wednesday.

The Rhode Island Department of Health and Department of Management said blue-green algae levels were low enough to allow recreational activities to commence at the reservoir.

Officials said recent surveys and sample analysis confirmed that blue-green algae had been present, but at acceptably low levels, adding that harmful cyanotoxin produced by algae is not present in detectable concentrations.

The health department noted that blue-green algae conditions can change quickly, and blooms may still affect Slacks Reservoir or other waterbodies in Rhode Island.

RIDOH provided the following warning regarding algae blooms:

“The public should avoid contact with any body of water that is bright green or has a dense, floating algal mat on the water’s surface. Blue-green algae blooms may look like green paint or thick pea soup. Toxins may persist in the water after a blue-green algae bloom is no longer visible.”

Anyone who wishes to report suspected blue-green algae blooms should contact RIDEM’s Office of Water Resources at 222-4700 or DEM.OWRCyano@dem.ri.gov.