Lake Norman algae blooms cancel popular boating event for Charlotte kids
Lake Norman algae blooms prompted the cancellation Thursday of the boating portion of a popular longtime benefit for Charlotte-area youth.
For 21 summers, Big Day at the Lake has paired boaters with youth from Charlotte-based Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Carolinas for a fun day on the water.
Organizers canceled the on-the-water part of the July 19 event “with an abundance of caution and a steadfast commitment to the safety and well-being of the children and boat hosts,” founder Dave Yochum said in a statement.
“While we’re sad to miss the time on the water, the safety of the kids is always our top priority,” Yochum said. He is publisher of Cornelius Today and Business Today.
The land-based picnic celebration will go on from noon to 2 p.m.
The event has raised nearly $2 million for Big Brothers Big Sisters over the decades, he said.
Potentially harmful green-blue algae emerged on the lake this month, prompting warnings from state health officials to avoid the water where spotted.
Algal blooms have lingered “at multiple locations” in Mecklenburg, Iredell, Lincoln and Catawba counties, according to a new release by the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources.
Health officials urged people to keep children and pets from water that’s bright green, blue, discolored or scummy.
This story was originally published June 26, 2025 at 3:35 PM.