A sample collected and examined by Maryland Department of Natural Resources on 5/11/04 from Lauderick Creek on the Bush River measured 23,250cells/ml of the cyanophyte (commonly called bluegreen algae) Microcystis aeruginosa. The Bush River was a site for a persistent summer algal bloom during 2003 beginning in late July when cell concentrations of Microcystis were 1.6 million cells/ml, Anabaena spp. was abundant (264,000 cells/ml) and a fish kill was observed (see HAB News from July 24, 2003: "Blue-green Algal Blooms Found on the Bush River."). The Bush River was just one of numerous locations where the hepatotoxin microcystin was detected in association with summer cyanophyte blooms in 2003 (see HAB News from October 30, 2003: "Microcystin toxins found across Maryland's Chesapeake Bay in summer 2003.").

Maryland Department of Natural Resources is working in cooperation with Department of the Environment, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and Department of Agriculture to continue monitoring the algal bloom conditions in the Bay. The Maryland DNR website Eyes on the Bay further provides locations for tracking active algal blooms and near real-time water quality conditions throughout the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays.