RIDOH and DEM recommend avoiding contact with all Roger Williams Park Ponds

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Department of Health and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management  are advising residents to avoid contact with all Roger William’s Park Ponds.

Ponds include Polo Lake, Elm Lake, Cunliff Lake, Deep Spring Lake, Roosevelt Pond, Willow Lake, and Pleasure Pond in Providence due to blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria bloom, in the ponds.

Blue-green algae can produce toxins that can harm humans and animals.

According to a release, toxins and/or high cell counts were detected by the RIDOH State Health Laboratory from water samples and visual assessments by the DEM.

To report suspected blue-green algae blooms, contact DEM’s Office of Water Resources at 222-4700 or DEM.OWRCyano@dem.ri.gov.

For more information and current advisories, you can visit DEM’s website.