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April 26, 2004
Spring diatom blooms evident in Chesapeake and Coastal Bays.

A small centric diatom (2.5 um) is blooming in the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays as detected by Maryland DNR routine monitoring and citizen observations. The algae is believed to be Cyclotella sp. A brown discoloration of the bloom water has been noted at some locations. As these blooms die off we may observe low dissolved oxygen situations in such locations this year.

 

Chesapeake Bay
4/13/04: Patapsco River 101,972 cells/ml
4/13/04: Sandy Point 28,355 cells/ml
4/19/04: Corsica River 511,238 cells/ml
4/19/04: Rockhold Creek 578,760 cells/ml

Coastal Bays
4/21/04: Ayers Creek 423,000 cells/ml
4/21/04: Trappe Creek 671,000 cells/ml