July 24, 2003
Blue-green Algal Blooms Found on the Bush River. |
A blue-green algal bloom consisting largely of
Microcystis
and Anabaena was identified by Maryland Department of the
Environment (MDE) personnel on July 23rd on the Bush River, an upper western
shore tributary to the Chesapeake Bay. In an area where the algae were
concentrated along the shoreline from the winds and currents, algal
concentrations of Microcystis were estimated at 1.6 million cells/ml,
similar to
initial samples collected on July 18th on Turner Creek (Sassafras River).
Anabaena was also large fraction of the sample estimated at 264,000 cells/ml.
About 1,800 fish that appeared to have been dead for several days, consisting
largely of
gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) were observed over a stretch of
2.5 miles of the Bush River.
A Press Release regarding conditions on the Sassafras River was published by Maryland Department of the Environment July 22nd and may be referenced for further information on blue-green algal blooms in the upper Chesapeake Bay. A fact sheet on Microcystis and the 2000 bloom can be found on the Department of Natural Resources' website. Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Environment will continue to monitor the situation and publish updates to the website as necessary. To report a fish kill or fish health related event, please call the Fish Health Hotline at (888) 584-3110, 24 hours a day. |
Maryland Department of Natural Resources, 580 Taylor Avenue, Annapolis, MD 21401
(877) 620-8DNR