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A July 26 announcement from Camp Sewataro notified the public that the swimming and fishing ponds had been closed due to “blue green algae levels” found in the fishing pond. Bleu green algae is another term used for cyanobacteria. At the August 13 meeting of the Board of Health, the public learned more about the situation.
Health Director Vivian Zeng told the board that cyanobacteria tested high in the swimming pond as well, though both were already closed when the fishing pond tested high because the two ponds feed into each other. She said test results on the swimming pond indicated a level of over 370,000 cells per milliliter. The allowable threshold is 70,000 cells per milliliter. Zeng characterized that as “significantly overboard.” (46:05)
Much of the discussion attributed the issue to recent heat waves and runoff on the property, as well as the stagnant nature of the water. Staff reported a good collaboration with the camp operator, and noted the operator has a regular testing program in place.
Sudbury Weekly contacted the Sudbury Health Department on Friday, August 16, and the latest test results are even higher. The swimming pond is now over 430,000 cells per milliliter and the fishing pond is over 600,000 cells per milliliter. The public is advised that there is no swimming, boating, or fishing allowed at the ponds, and pets should be kept away.
Zeng later went on to say that she doubted the levels would drop before the end of the camp season. The State recommendation is not to do any aggressive intervention with algaecide, but rather to leave it alone and keep people and pets away from the water. She said that if you kill the bacteria then the testing can’t determine how many toxins are in the water.
Zeng was asked if cyanobacteria affects the fish in the fishing pond and she responded:
“Yes. So I found that to be interesting though. With such high counts, you weren’t seeing fish floating in the fish pond. So that was interesting.”
Zeng went on to say her department would be meeting with the camp operator to develop a long-term plan, as she expected this to become a more frequent occurrence as the frequency of heat waves increases. They’re looking to procure metal signs for ongoing use to alert the public to the closure and risks.
The closure happened about a month after a resident swimming program was launched in June. The program was a part of the terms of a contract extension that was agreed to by the Sudbury Select Board and the camp operator in 2022. There was a general desire to launch the swim program in 2023, but concerns about public accessibility and ADA compliance for Town programs led to a series of accessibility projects on the property. That included accessible parking and pathways nearby the swimming pond.
Those capital investments were made by the private camp operator who manages the property, not the Town, but they do impact the bottom-line revenue share the Town receives from the agreement because the projects increase costs incurred by the operator. The Town of Sudbury revenue share for 2023 was approximately $92,000.
If Zeng is correct that these closures will continue in the future, it may have further financial implications for the Town and for Camp Sewataro. Annual Camp Financials are typically reported to the Town in the late fall or early winter each year.