On May 9th, Maryland Department of the Environment personnel responded to a report of discolored water on Fishing Creek, northern Calvert County. The two water samples collected had bloom densities of the Mahogany tide organism Prorocentrum minimum of 22,680 cells/ml and 32,580 cells/ml. Salinity was on average 8 ppt in the region, lower mesohaline conditions. Dissolved oxygen levels averaged 10 mg/L and 110% saturation, indicative of algal bloom waters despite the very cloudy weather.

This bloom is located approximately 6 miles south of the Rockhold Creek bloom investigated on May 7th . The bloom locations are identified at Maryland DNR’s map on the Eyes on the Bay website in addition to a wide range of water quality monitoring information on Chesapeake and Coastal Bays.