NCDWR FISH KILL & ALGAL BLOOM REPORT DASHBOARD

(Click above to see reports of algal bloom at Jordan Lake and other bodies of water in North Carolina.)

Algal blooms are groupings of algae in water systems that often present as a mass of green, blue, or other-colored water. Blooms can cause adverse health effects by causing major changes in water chemistry or producing toxins that have been linked to adverse health effects in wildlife, domestic pets, and humans. Some of the most common algal toxins are microcystin and cyanobacteria, also known as "blue-green algae."

Algal blooms can look like these images below, like spilled paint. Algal blooms can also have surface scums, mats, and/or films.

Protect You, Your Family, and Your Pets from Cyanobacterial Blooms

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services recommends the following guidelines to safeguard people and pets from cyanobacterial blooms:

• Keep children and pets away from waters that appear discolored or scummy.
• Do not handle or touch large accumulations (“scums” or mats) of algae.
• Do not water ski or jet ski over algal mats.
• Do not use scummy water for cleaning or irrigation.
• If you accidently come into contact with an algal bloom, wash thoroughly.
• If your pet appears to stumble, stagger, or collapse after being in a pond, lake or river, seek veterinary care immediately.
• If your child appears ill after being in waters containing a bloom, seek medical care immediately.
• If you are unsure whether or not a bloom is present, it is best to stay out of the water.

If your pet has been around water and is displaying the following symptoms:

• Loss of energy
• Loss of appetite
• Vomiting
• Stumbling and falling
• Foaming at the mouth
• Diarrhea
• Excessive drooling
• Tremors and seizures

Please reach out to your local veterinarian and/or call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435.

FOR MORE
Frequently Asked Questions: Cyanobacterial (bluegreen algae) Blooms (N.C. Division of Water Resources)

More Resources

• Algal Blooms (N.C. Department of Environmental Quality)
• Algal Blooms (Occupational & Environmental Epidemiology) (N.C. Division of Public Health)
• Avoid Harmful Algae and Cyanobacterial (CDC)