News

Pamlico-Tar Riverkeeper Katey Zimmerman and Water Qaulity Specialist Taylor Seijo headed out on Sound Rivers’ Bay Rider on Wednesday, on the lookout for algal bloom conditions on the Pamlico.

“We were scouting for issues, specifically algal blooms and fish kills,” Katey said. “There have been lots of reports on the Neuse, so we thought it was a good opportunity to run the boat here.”

From Mason’s Landing, the two made a stop at the Washington waterfront, then continued down to Chocowinity Bay.

“We put in the YSI meter and took some readings at the Washington waterfront. I didn’t see anything actively happening, but the oxygen saturation levels on the surface and the bottom were indicative of a potential algal bloom,” Katey said.

They did spot a dead cownose ray on the Washington waterfront.

“If you see a potential algal bloom — discolored, maybe smelly water — or a fish kill, give us a call. We’d like to know about it,” Katey said.

Katey and Taylor also ran upstream on the Tar River to inspect Sound Rivers’ two camping platforms near Washington: Cypress Hideaway and the McMullen platform.

“Water levels are higher, so were able to get closer than we have been in a while,” Katey said. “Good news is a log is no longer blocking the front of Cypress Hideaway, but a live cypress tree’s branches are blocking the entrance, so we’re going to have to go out and remove some of those branches!”

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