"Contaminated Water rb2@gr5t Mildred"

I remember seeing the algae last summer but not prior to that. We've been boating in the Delta since 1980. We also went in the water two weeks ago and, yes, we're still around too. It looks like it's only ugly if you ingest it. I do believe we'll stay out of the water this weekend. Seems like it's a pretty common thing from what I found on the internet. Oh well - at least the phantom signs have been identified. Happy Boating to all.
 
Thanks for the great info, BB. Hang out more often...

I've seen the bloom every year about this time on the San Joaquin and all over the Central Delta. My wife never saw it in the Delta when she was a kid.

Last week I was kicking back on the transom seat and shaking dried algae out of my hair. I was OK until I started reading up on this. Now I'm starting to itch.

Here is the California Department of Health Services information page on the subject of blue-green algae bloom and microcystis toxicity:

http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/ddwem/bluegreenalgae/default.htm

and specific info on Microcystis in the California Delta:

http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/bluegreenalgae/docs/workshop110805/lehman_presentation.pdf

I guess to be on the safe side: don't get in the water with the green cornflakes.
 
ISN
T BUREAUCRACY GREAT! One state agency has knowledge of a threat to public health in the Delta, Another agency with a need to know is not in the loop. Thanks, Boating Buddy, for tracking this down. The Legislature should investigate why DWR knew about this and DBW didn't and why there was no publicity about the algae bloom. -- Warren
 
The last time I was at my boat, 8/25-26, I saw those small green "cornflakes" floating in the water behind my boat. I knew it was algae, but had no idea it was toxic. Yikes!

Everyone, be sure to fight Schwarzenegger's plan for the delta's water! http://gov.ca.gov/interact
 
Well done....great piece of work. They must have taken them down fast
 
Mallard Island (just west of Pittsburg, in my neck of the woods) shows zero chlorophyll.
http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/queryID?s=956

Also, electrical conductivity at the same site. Higher means the water is more salty.
http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/queryID?s=953

Electrical conductivity at Antioch. Again, higher = more salt.
http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/queryID?s=34

And conductivity at Holland Tract. I believe that on this graph, 300 is 0.3 on the other graphs.
http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/queryID?s=720

Conductivity at Victoria Island, near Disco Bay.
http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/queryID?s=1670

There are a lot of sensors out there for salinity, even more for river stages and temperature, things like that, but Mallard Island is the only one I saw for chlorophyll. A fun place where I got all these links from: http://cdec.water.ca.gov/queryGroup.html
 
You know, after reading through that forum link somebody posted, I'm not holding my breath. What we have is "somebody on the internet" saying they're an expert in something and saying that the delta is toxic. What we don't have is .gov agencies disseminating warnings to the recreational boating community. Not on any "water quality agency" websites, no flyers stapled up at "Antioch" where this guy said he measured toxic levels, and nobody who works with any entity, whether public or private, has heard anything about this, not in any LNM, etc. I'm in the process of trying to contact a friend who works with the local sanitation district to find out if they've heard anything over there. I've been watching the river lately in my area (Antioch & Pittsburg) and haven't seen "little green corn flakes" at all. Also, from the information we have we know that this organism doesn't do well in saltier water. But at the same time, this anonymous expert "thinks" that the toxic levels would be higher on an ebb tide. It only takes a moment of looking at data, not to mention common sense, that the water around Antioch gets saltier on an ebb tide.

If somebody can prove my doubts wrong, I welcome it. Show me the data.
 
Like the Lehman presentation said "ambient toxicity of the largest colonies were below the WHO advisory level for drinking water quality ..." That's for the 2004 survey. The local agencies may not be seeing toxic levels.

After swimming or just plain cooling in "green cornflakes" for years, I have never noticed any of the toxicity symptoms associated with microcystins. I've had swimmer's itch before, but I got that from staying in the water for an hour to do some boat work at the waterline.

I've noticed that green cornflakes appear the heaviest at certain tide stages, but I haven't noticed which stage.

September is boat maintenance month for me. The stuff is at the marina, so I'll bring back some photos for Monday. I remember seeing the algae during boat trips in October, too.

Note the following from the the California Dept. of Health Services "Draft Guidance for Fresh Water Beaches": Cyanobacteria blooms reflect their environment in which the cyanobacteria exist. Hence, conditions of the freshwater body such as water flow, temperature, and the presence of nutrients influence the types of cyanobacteria that may be present, as well as their growth and toxicity.

We know that the amount of algae visible in the water is NOT necessarily related to toxicity. Other unknown conditions affect toxicity that may include temperature, salinity and the life stage of the algae.

I have 11 years experince as a California boater. Take that for what it's worth or not worth. My best advice: Don't cancel your boating plans for the Delta just because this blue-green algae may be present.

I'd error on the side of caution, though. You will see this algae from August through October in many freshwater areas of the Delta. The algae will be heavier during a couple times of the day, during certain tide conditions. If you see a lot of the algae, you may want to wait an hour or two for the stuff to clear before getting into the water.

If you look at that picture at the beginning of the Lehmann presentation: http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/bluegreenalgae/docs/workshop110805/lehman_presentation.pdf
I'd say that is not a heavy amount... not from what I've seen.
 
This stuff is all over the old section (south side) of Willowberm marina in the shallow water near the shore. Now that I know what it is I am glad I moved to the new section.

Bill
 
We just got home after 2 1/2 glorious days at the Delta. Seems like there is less "cornflake" in the water than there was two weeks ago. We didn't go swimming however. Hopefully this stage is about over.
 
I didn't see much of the algae at our slip at Spindrift Marina, either. The slip is in 11' of water. Just a piece or two now and then. Not enough to bother taking a picture. If the Delta weather gets hot again, we may see more of the green cornflakes.

It was surprisingly windy on Sunday. This is one of the windiest years I can remember on the Delta.
 
Water temps should be going down quite a bit over the next few weeks so the algae should be gone too. But then it will be too cold to swim.

Fall is always my favorite time of year. While the water may be too cold to swim in, the weather is nice and the winds are calm.

Last weekend was the last major party and the end of summer. Now things will be quiet again on the delta until next summer.
 
Upper, I agree. Now we Deltaphiles have the Delta we love back. I'll be happy until next June!!!! I don't even mind the wind or the rain! Now if it snows.......well, that would time to stay at home.
 
Outrigger Marina has been saturated with these green cornflakes most of the summer. Last weekend I didn't see any flakes in the water. Hopefully it will be gone for the rest of the year. I had no clue what is was.
 
The main thing I take from this, is if a conveyance canal is built, that will greatly slow the water flow through the Delta - increasing the residence time and increase these types bloom, according to the information...?
 
KCRA TV has been highlighting this on their evening and morning news too. I think everyone waited until after Labor Day to assist the resort businesses in the Delta!
 
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070914/A_NEWS/709140321/-1/A_NEWS http://www.modbee.com/local/story/68570.html

Flutter, when did you see KCRA coverage on the algae? (never mind...I just found it TIVO'd on yesterday's (Friday 9/14) KCRA Reports at 6PM.)
 
Yup and they repeated the report on the Sat morning news at 8AM. don't you just love TiVo????
 
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