Quispamsis residents are being urged to watch for blue-green algae in local waterways after the Government of New Brunswick confirmed blooms in the Kennebecasis River and nearby Darlings Lake in late June. The Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health says the advisories will stay in place indefinitely, warning anyone who swims, fishes or boats to avoid contact with water that looks discoloured or scummy.
The most recent bloom on the Kennebecasis River, between Kennebecasis Island and Darlings Island, was recorded June 25, 2026. At Darlings Lake, near Hampton, a bloom was confirmed the day before on June 24. Both water bodies now carry standing advisories that began years ago but remain active as conditions warm.
Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, is a natural part of many New Brunswick lakes and rivers, but some types produce toxins that can irritate skin, eyes and throat. Swallowing the water can lead to stomach upset, and significant exposure may cause more serious effects like liver damage or neurological problems. Health officials say it is impossible to tell just by looking whether a bloom is toxic, so people should treat any suspicious growth as a potential danger.
Blooms often appear quickly in warm, shallow, slow-moving water rich in nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen. They can show up as a surface scum or as mats growing on the bottom. Quispamsis has seen this before, with past blooms closing beaches at Meenan’s Cove and Gondola Point, and water quality concerns flagged at Ritchie Lake. The town has issued its own advisories when blooms are visible, working alongside provincial monitoring efforts.
To help track the risk, the Hammond River Angling Association has placed solar-powered cyano trackers in waterways across southern New Brunswick, including a unit at Meenan’s Cove. These devices collect data every 30 minutes to help predict bloom conditions. The province now lists more than 30 water bodies under cyanobacteria advisories, a number that has grown in recent years. Anyone who spots a possible bloom can report it to the Department of Environment and Local Government’s Saint John office at 506-658-2558.
