The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New England District announced today that the swimming area at Hop Brook Lake in Middlebury, Conn., is closed until further notice. 

The closure is due to the presence of extremely high levels of cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) in the lake and the potential for toxins to be present.  Due to the high levels of algae in the lake the swimming area is closed, and patrons are advised to avoid contact with the lake water until further notice.  Visitors and pets should not touch, enter, or ingest the lake water until further notice.  Other water related recreators should not participate in activities where water has scum or discoloration. If pets or humans have contact with the water, they are advised to wash the contacted immediately with clean water.

A fact sheet containing information on cyanobacteria, what it is, and health risks associated with it can be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/harmful-algal-blooms/about/index.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/habs/materials/factsheets.html

The Hop Brook Lake Facebook page will also have this fact sheet posted.

Once the combination of bacteria tests and cyanobacteria tests indicate a favorable result, USACE will reopen the water for swimming and recreating. The majority of the Hop Brook Lake recreation area remains open daily for picnicking, hiking and other recreational activities until Sept. 8, 2024.

For more information, call (203) 729-8840 or visit the Hop Brook Lake website at https://www.nae.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/Hop-Brook-Lake/.