Brown Tide blooms reached category 3 levels on June 13 (up to 721,937 cells per milliliter at Public Landing and 494,158 in Newport Bay).  In addition to turning the water a coffee color, category 3 blooms (200,000 to >1,000,000 cells/ml) can severely reduce grazing (clearance rates) of shellfish such as clams, scallops and mussels.  This can have significant impacts on shellfish growth and can cause high mortalities, especially to larvae and more sensitive bi-valves such as Bay Scallops.  In addition, extreme decreases in light penetration can impact submerged aquatic vegetation.

The bloom, which began on May 28, is the longest brown tide bloom documented in the coastal bays.  Anecdotal information suggests that the bloom was located primarily along the western shore from the middle of Newport Bay south to south of the Public Landing area and around Tingles Island in Chincoteague Bay.  More samples are being collected to gain better data on the spatial extent.