Algae Containing Cyanobacteria Identified During Water Quality Monitoring At Popular Public Access Site Near Hagerstown Speedway
Washington, DC – August 1 – Brent Walls, Upper Potomac Riverkeeper yesterday identified harmful and toxic cyanobacteria algae at the Wilson Bridge Public Access Site on the Conococheague Creek near the Hagerstown Speedway, Potomac Riverkeeper Network President Nancy Stoner announced today.
Said Stoner, “This troubling development is directly linked to climate change – the increase in heat this year and low water levels and flows create conditions in which these dangerous bacteria can thrive.”
When asked about the discovery, Walls said, “My Water Quality Monitoring Program just expanded this week to include this new site at Wilson Bridge Public Access; the volunteer who collected a water sample there saw algal mats and had the great initiative to collect a sample of them. When I took the algal mat sample to Hood College, which does our bacteria testing, I was informed that the algae was in fact harmful cyanobacteria. And in another disturbing development, the volunteer said that an angler showed her a fish with a lesion he had just caught.”
Catherine Gaulip, technician at Hood’s Center for Coastal and Watershed Studies, did the analysis, informed Brent of the results., and together they contacted Catherine Wazniak, Environmental Program Manager at Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources. She is the official directly involved in monitoring for harmful algae blooms in Maryland waters and has advised us that it is confirmed as cyanobacteria.
Walls continued, “While Maryland’s DNR is paying attention to our discovery, it may be some time before they issue an official advisory. We think it is important to inform the public as soon as possible to avoid human and animal contact with the algal mats for now.”
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Potomac Riverkeeper Network is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization with three regional Waterkeeper branches: Potomac Riverkeeper, Upper Potomac Riverkeeper, and Shenandoah Riverkeeper. Our mission is to protect the public’s right to clean water in the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers and their tributaries. We stop pollution to enhance the safety of our drinking water, protect healthy river habitats, and enhance public use and enjoyment.
