News

A crew of Sound Rivers staff headed out on the river in Washington on Wednesday to investigate a report of an algal bloom in the retention pond at Moss Landing and look for signs of others.

Using the YSI meter, measurements at the Washington waterfront and Cypress Landing showed high dissolved oxygen on the surface of the Pamlico, low DO on the bottom and elevated water temperatures due to the heat wave. “This is the makings for potential fish kills, if we happen to get heavy rains or winds pulling that deoxygenated water up from the bottom to the surface,” said Water Quality Specialist Taylor Register Seijo.

Other signs of algal blooms were reported on Broad Creek and Cherry Run, both near Washington.

On a sunny day with temperatures in the 90s, the crew consisting of Taylor, Pamlico-Tar Riverkeeper Katey Zimmerman, Volunteer Coordinator Emily Fritz and water-quality interns Hannah Gurganus and Brooke Kestler took a break from the heat by jumping in the river.