Algae Bloom ‘Fairly Typical’ ; Outbreak in the James is No Threat to People but Could Harm Fish

The algae growing in the James River just below Hopewell are not harmful to people, state officials said yesterday.

But such outbreaks, often called blooms, remain a concern because algae can suck oxygen from the water when they die. That can create areas that are harmful to fish and other aquatic creatures.

“As far as the public is concerned, there is no indication of any concern here,” said Bill Hayden, a spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Quality. “It is really a water-quality issue we want to monitor.”

Harold G. Marshall, an Old Dominion University algae expert, reported to the DEQ yesterday the results of tests on water samples taken Wednesday from the James. Marshall identified the plants as common types of blue-green and green algae.

Paraphrasing Marshall, Hayden said the outbreak was a “fairly typical algae bloom.”

Experts say such algae outbreaks are symptoms of a major problem in the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal tributaries — an overabundance of nutrients from sewage plants, farm manure, suburban fertilizers and other sources.

“Because we are taking nutrient pollution very seriously, we want to watch this kind of algae bloom when it occurs,” Hayden said.

“If the water cools off, we would expect [the algae] to dissipate before too long.”

Some algae can be harmful to people, causing skin rashes, upset stomachs and other problems.

The resort town of Colonial Beach temporarily closed its beaches last summer when a toxic form of algae contaminated the Potomac River.

The heat and sun of the past several days probably contributed to the James River outbreak, DEQ officials said.

The outbreak was discovered Monday by Bill Street, executive director of the James River Association, an environmental group, and Chuck Frederickson, whom the association employs as the James’ riverkeeper — a monitor of pollution and other problems.

The algae covered several square miles, Street and Frederickson said. The microscopic plants turned the brownish-green water a light green.