Sodus Bay in Wayne County is a popular summertime vacation sport, but the beaches are somewhat barren for this time of year. They were closed earlier this week because of an outbreak of blue-green algae.

Ken Siegel, of Scottsville, has been at the bay all week vacationing with family. He says it's a little disappointing that the algae have kept his grandchildren from swimming, but Siegel says there's nothing anyone can do about it.

“It's all part of what happens,” he said. “I accept it, I've learned to give it up and take it as it is and make the best of it. Being with the family is the main thing."

The algae are particularly bad along the south shore of the bay where Sodus Point Mayor Mike Sullivan's family owns property. Sullivan said he didn't know what was happening as the algae became more prominent over the past couple of weeks.

"Our first reaction was somebody dumped something into the bay. Then as we saw how quickly wide spread it was, realized it wasn't that kind of thing, it wasn't somebody trying to kill weeds,” the mayor said. “But a little homework determined it was blue-green algae that are better known as cyan bacteria."

It turns out blue-green algae is rather common, not only along the Great Lakes, but in nearly all bodies of water. What is unusual is the high concentration of it in Sodus Bay.

"You need several things for algae blooms to take place,” explained Webster Pearsall of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. “One is proper nutrients. Usually, up in the northeast it's phosperous and nitrogen limiting. You need enough sunlight, and you need warm temperatures, and this year, unfortunately, we got all three."

Blue-green algae can produce toxins that could pose a health risk, as they can affect the liver and nervous system.

"Typical symptoms might include things like diarrhea, fever, stomach upset, yellowing of skin and eyes, and in some cases, nervous system disorders," said Nick Rich of the New York State Department of Health.

Even though summer is beginning to wind down, more hot weather is on the way. And that has town and village leaders concerned especially with the Labor Day weekend just around the corner. If beaches remain closed, town officials worry how that will affect the last few weeks of the tourist season.

"It could have an impact on our local economy,” said Sodus Town Supervisor Steve LeRoy. “Hopefully, this won't last long and it will clear, as it always does, but it is a concern of ours right now."

Health officials and the DEC say the algae will subside on their own. They just don't know when that will happen.