Harmful Algal Blooms
What are Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs)?
Algae are microscopic, plant-like organisms that are the base of the food web in lakes, ponds, and streams. Under the right environmental conditions, algae can rapidly grow and form an algal bloom which may appear as surface scum, water discoloration, or both. Algal blooms that are formed by species that can produce toxins are known as harmful algal blooms (HABs), but can also be referred to as cyanobacteria blooms, blue-green algae blooms, cyanoHABs, or potential HABs. The toxins produced by HABs can cause adverse health effects in humans, pets, and wildlife.
The following are visual indicators of a possible HAB:
- Discolored Water – water may appear bright green/blue-green in color. When algae begin to die off, water may turn milky blue and produce a strong, foul odor.
- Surface Scum – some HABs form thick scums across the water surface. They can have the appearance of spilled paint forming a film across the water's surface. These scums can accumulate along the shoreline.
- Flecks and grass clippings – some HABs accumulate into colonies observable as blue-green flecks or as clumps that resemble grass clippings.
Why do blooms occur?
The primary factors that cause the growth and reproduction of HABs are:
- Sunlight
- Relatively warm water temperatures
- Slow-moving water
- Nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus)
HABs are more likely to occur in late spring to early fall when water temperatures are higher. Nutrient pollution can make blooms worse, leading to more severe HABs that occur more often. When large amounts of algae die off and decompose in a waterbody, the oxygen within the water can be depleted and can lead to fish kills.
Check out EPA’s website to learn more about ways you can reduce or prevent nutrient pollution in our waterbodies.
Safety Info
It is hard to tell whether a bloom is harmful just by looking at it, so it is best to avoid the following activities around possible algal blooms:
- Swimming, boating, kayaking, fishing, jet-skiing, water-skiing, or wading through the water
- Touching or handling mats of algae
- Ingesting the water
- Using the water for washing or irrigation
- Pets and children are at a higher risk of exposure so keep them away from water that appears discolored or scummy
"When in Doubt, Stay Out!"
If you accidentally come in contact with a HAB, take the following actions:
- Wash thoroughly
- Immediately seek veterinary care if your pet appears to stumble, stagger, collapse or vomit uncontrollably after being in contact with the water
- Immediately seek medical care if a child or adult appears ill after being in contact with the water
For more information about the health effects of HAB toxins, refer to the EPA.
Who Do I Contact to Report a Suspected Harmful Algal Bloom?
If you see a possible HAB in a waterbody in North Carolina, submit a report through the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's DWR Citizen Report Form or call 704.663.1699.
If you see a possible HAB in a waterbody in South Carolina, contact South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control's HABS coordinator, Emily Bores, boreseb@dhec.sc.gov or call 803.898.8374.
Active HAB Watches and Advisories
To view current HAB Watches and Advisories in our area, refer to the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation's swim guide. The data used to post these watches and advisories were collected by NCDEQ, SCDHEC, and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services.
For More Information and Resources on HABS: