CLICK HERE TO REPORT A FISH KILL OR ALGAE BLOOM

An example of an algae bloom in the Chesapeake Bay region. Note the striking boundary between the normally green colored James River water and the mahogany colored water resulting from the intense algae bloom.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) is asking boaters, anglers, and other users of the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers to become CBF Water Watchers. The CBF Water Watcher program is an educational, citizen-based project to report suspected water quality problems with an aim ultimately to improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams. Improving water quality in the Bay through the reduction of nutrient pollution is the key to solving the oxygen problems in Virginia’s waters and is the highest priority of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Participation is easy. As you spend time on Virginia’s waters, boating, fishing, or enjoying the scenery, take note of any signs of algae blooms or fish kills. If you encounter a bloom or fish kill, please note the following:

• Date and Time of event
• Color of water
• Location of the event (i.e. GPS coordinates, local landmarks)
• Types of fish killed and abnormal physical features on the fish (if applicable)
• Any other information you feel important 

Citizens are urged to exercise caution and to avoid contact with water and fish near a suspected algae bloom or fish kill!

Algae Blooms 
Although the Bay and our rivers and streams contain many naturally occurring algae, blooms occur when excessive levels of nitrogen and phosphorus pollution spur algae to grow very quickly, creating unfavorable or deadly conditions for animals in the water. The effects of algae blooms are numerous, including blocking sunlight from reaching underwater plants, lowering oxygen levels in the water, and in some instances, releasing toxins that are dangerous to fish, shellfish, and sometimes humans.

Algae blooms may be green, brown, or reddish in color, and usually appear cloudy in the water. An example of a bloom in the Chesapeake Bay region appears here.

Fish Kills
Fish kills may be the result of a lack of oxygen in the water. Fish that die of oxygen deprivation are oftentimes found in mass on the water’s surface, commonly with open mouths and flared gills. Fish are also susceptible to various skin and tissue infections that may be fatal; this too may be related to pollution. Fish that die of infection usually have open sores along their bodies or fins. In some cases the fish may appear emaciated (skinny).

CBF is especially interested in gathering information about the ongoing fish kills in the Shenandoah Valley and tributaries to the James River.  For more information about these events please click here.

Education Sessions
The CBF Water Watcher Program will be conducting a series of educational and training sessions throughout the lower Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.. Training sessions will focus on teaching participants how to identify types of algal blooms and species of fish killed, and informing them of the reasons behind these occurrences and solutions to the water quality problems.  

Educational sessions are free and open to anyone interested in Saving the Bay, but participation in the training sessions is not necessary to become a Water Watcher. For more information on the educational sessions, you can contact the CBF Water Watcher program at waterwatchva@cbf.org or 757-622-1964.  To join the program online click here.

If you see one of these events, please click here to report.

If you have a camera, photographs are extremely useful in documenting the size, type and severity of the event. Please e-mail digital photos to waterwatchva@cbf.org. Digital files should not exceed 400 K and can should be small in size for use on the web site.

This program is supported by the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund