Beware of green and blue algal bloom at Bertie Beach

Anyone headed to Bertie Beach for the long Labor Day weekend must beware of the algal bloom lingering at times off shore.

The bloom has been in the Chowan River area since August 16.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources (DWR) advises the public to avoid contact with green or blue water in parts of the Chowan River in Chowan and Bertie counties due to an algal bloom that has stayed in the area.

The bloom has been observed from near the community of Rocky Hock to below the U.S. 17 bridge over the Chowan River near Edenton. There have been sightings at Bertie Beach, although algal blooms tend to move due to wind and wave action.

DWR has investigated the bloom and determined it is dominated by Microcystis, which in layman’s terms is also known as blue-green algae. Cyanobacteria blooms usually appear bright green, but when a bloom starts to decay, the color can change to a milky blue. Decaying algae may produce a strong, foul odor that can impact a large area.

The algae can produce toxins that may cause adverse health effects in humans and pets. Dogs should not be allowed in the water. Testing of the water detected concentrations of the bloom that potentially exceeded public health advisory levels.

According to DWR, further testing is underway and results will be reported on as soon as they are available.

North Carolina has had no reports of adverse health effects in people associated with this algal bloom.

N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health (DPH) routinely encourages the public to avoid contact with large accumulations of algae and to prevent children and pets from swimming or ingesting water in an algal bloom.

DPH suggests keeping children and pets away from water that appears bright green, blue or discolored, scummy and do not touch large mats of algae.

Do not handle, cook or eat dead fish that may be present in area water. Above all, if children appear ill after being in waters containing algal bloom, seek medical care immediately.

Finally, if your pet appears to stumble, stagger or collapse, call the vet immediately.

To report an algal bloom, contact the nearest DEQ regional office. To view reported algal bloom events, visit DWR’s fish kill and algal bloom dashboard.