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Algae bloom in Rainbow Reservoir, CT
- Thread starter Pgeorg
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- Aug 29, 2020
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Excerpts from the Sassafras (Maryland) Riverkeeper Harmful Algae Bloom Report yesterday:
Unfortunately, the harmful algae bloom continues to be active throughout much of the Sassafras River, stretching from Turner's Creek up to Fox Hole Landing. This bloom started seven weeks ago and has consisted mainly of toxin-producing Microcystis species with cell concentrations ranging from 170,000-3,000,000 cells/ml. The State's threshold of concern for Microcystis species is 30,000 cells/ml. At times, toxin levels have been 300-500 times higher than the EPA's health concern threshold.
Since July 15 on the Sassafras River. Large amounts of rainfall from tropical storms and summer squalls have inundated septic systems and wastewater treatment plants, causing high fecal bacteria levels in the river that exceed the EPA's health guidelines. This rainfall has also inundated farm fields and lawns, washing excess nutrients into the river and triggering one of the largest Microcystis algae blooms ever recorded on the river.
While these Microcystis species of algae are naturally-occurring, each year we are seeing these blooms increase in toxicity, duration, and size due to warmer weather, heavier rainfall, and our behaviors within the watershed.
Unfortunately, the harmful algae bloom continues to be active throughout much of the Sassafras River, stretching from Turner's Creek up to Fox Hole Landing. This bloom started seven weeks ago and has consisted mainly of toxin-producing Microcystis species with cell concentrations ranging from 170,000-3,000,000 cells/ml. The State's threshold of concern for Microcystis species is 30,000 cells/ml. At times, toxin levels have been 300-500 times higher than the EPA's health concern threshold.
Since July 15 on the Sassafras River. Large amounts of rainfall from tropical storms and summer squalls have inundated septic systems and wastewater treatment plants, causing high fecal bacteria levels in the river that exceed the EPA's health guidelines. This rainfall has also inundated farm fields and lawns, washing excess nutrients into the river and triggering one of the largest Microcystis algae blooms ever recorded on the river.
While these Microcystis species of algae are naturally-occurring, each year we are seeing these blooms increase in toxicity, duration, and size due to warmer weather, heavier rainfall, and our behaviors within the watershed.
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