Officials warn of algae bloom found in SR Creek
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has warned of an algae bloom that could develop into a danger for humans in water near Moniteau schools, according to regional environmental officials.
Chip Brunst, supervisor at the Pennsylvania State Game Commission's Northwest office, said he made contact with the DEP, which confirmed the possible risks posed by algae in the south branch of the Slippery Rock Creek.
Brunst said he talked with Ron Lybrook from the department, who said the algae bloom could be harmful to people if certain bacteria are produced.
“We're going to put signs up, but it might not be until Monday,” Brunst said.
Jonathan Kay, a waterways conservation officer with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, said he worked with the DEP in the initial investigation of sites around Grubb Road, Chambers Road and Coaltown Road bridges.
Kay said investigators found about three dozen fish between the sites floating dead. He also said it does not take long for a fish to either decompose or sink to the bottom on a hot day, so the figures could only be estimates.
“We saw fish that were dying or those that were stressed or deprived of oxygen,” he said. “These fish are basically suffocating.”
Kay said investigators saw evidence of oxygen deprivation from the fish that were struggling in the muck.
“There's a strong odor of debris and decay to it,” Kay said. “We could see evidence of fish trying to suck air in from the water.”
Kay said the type of fish caught in the flowing algae included carp, suckerfish, small catfish and bluegill. He said they were able to trace the trail of algae back to its source.
“We followed it all the way back up stream to the Glades Lake,” he said. “The Glades Lake itself has that green hue to it as well.”
Investigators believe high temperatures this summer contributed to the algae's growth and heavy rain can push the algae-ridden water over its dam and into the stream below, according to Kay.
Despite the nature of the fish deaths and the appearance of the algae, which is emerald green, authorities believe the incident was not produced artificially or by way of an accident.
“Based on the evidence we've secured by our investigation, everything points to a naturally occurring incident,” Kay said.
Kay said there isn't anything the DEP could do if the bloom was dangerous, which has yet to be confirmed, but the safest route to take is to warn people.
“They were warning against it's potential,” he said. He said it is advised that people should not drink, cook with or get into the water while the algae is present in their area, and pet owners should not allow their animals to do so either.
“It just has to make its way through,” Kay said. “I don't know how long that'll be. I think a lot of that will depend on how much rain we get.”
Kay said the algae's appearance and stench of rotten fish and decay will make the bloom's presence obvious.
“It's so oddly out of place for what you'd expect to see in a creek,” he said.
Kay said he has also contacted county emergency services to warn them of potential calls from the bloom and to help spread awareness of the algae until the area along the stream can be marked Monday.
“I spoke with county control last night,” Kay said. “I wanted the county to know that we were aware of what was going on and that we were on it.”
