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Harmful Algal Blooms

Report Algal Blooms: Use our Algae Bloom Sighting Report or call (866) 633-4686.

To learn more about Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) visit the Phytoplankton Monitoring Program. We also have a basic factsheet on harmful algae in the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays. To learn about the state-wide harmful algal bloom surveillance program, check out this factsheet on Harmful Algal Bloom Management.

Read recent HAB stories below the map, or find archived HAB stories in our searchable database.

  • Change Dates: click the arrows to search forward or backward by 2 weeks
    OR enter a date range (< 31 days), click the 'Go!' button
  • Filter/Find Species: turn data points for HAB species on or off
  • Show Legend: mouseover this menu to display the legend
  • Station markers: click a marker to view the array of all algal events for each station; clicking each symbol displays details for each HAB.

For a full-screen map view click here Eyes on the Bay - Interactive Mapping of Current Year Long-Term Station Data
Show Legend
Relative algal abundance:
blue circle map icon
Site Sampled
Algae were sampled, no harmful species identified
green circle icon
Algae Bloom
High abundance of algae that are not known to produce any toxins, but impact bay health.
No human health advisory.
orange map icon
Potentially Harmful Algae
A species of concern was identified below bloom thresholds. No human health advisory.
red triangle map icon
Harmful Algae Bloom
Public should be aware of blooms in the vicinity. Blooms have the potential to produce toxins that are harmful to humans, pets, or fish and/or have ecosystem impacts.


Algae are a natural part of the Bay ecosystem; however, some algae may be harmful when they bloom in unnaturally high abundance or they may produce a toxin that can impact people, animals and/or bay life.  Toxin testing is initiated when cell densities exceed set thresholds.

Visit DNR's Harmful Algal Bloom page for more information.

Filter/Find Species
Change Dates
Samples from
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Recent HAB Stories:





View the Archived HAB Map (qualitative data)
Note: Archived HAB Map data from samples prior to 2015 should not be used for analytical purposes
as these were qualitative assessments based on live cell counts.

If you would like to request algae data, please email us.