BURLINGTON — North Beach was closed Thursday because of cyanobacteria, more commonly known as blue-green algae, in the water.
“The algae is a visual marker for possible toxins in the water,” said Jesse Bridges, the director of the Burlington Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Department and harbormaster.
It is not known when the beach will reopen, he said Thursday.
The algae is a product of high levels of phosphorus in Lake Champlain, Bridges said. The algae has a particularly bad effect on pets, he said, so it is important to keep dogs out of the water.
The algae typically does not appear in the areas of the lake in Burlington, Bridges said. It is normally found in warm water, and because water levels are low the water heated up.
The algae normally goes away once there is rainfall or a change in the wind, Bridges said.
