Aerial Photo of Algae on Coastline

**StoneyJ** · 09-16-2010, 03:53 PM

Shot this today. View from Destin East in Okaloosa County toward Walton County. Notably thick band of algae. One of the most massive I've seen in 10 years of shooting aerials.

**seagrover** · 09-16-2010, 05:06 PM

Nice photo but nasty looking water!

**kurt** · 09-16-2010, 05:18 PM

cool!

**sunspotbaby** · 09-16-2010, 05:21 PM

Does anyone else think this is some sort of defense mechanism for the algae?

I don't know nothin' 'bout no algae. I've heard other long-timers here say they've never seen it like this. Anybody?

**scooterbug44** · 09-16-2010, 05:48 PM

I don't know, but it sure is stinky!

I know the scientists are concerned about the oil harming the Sargassum algae (the brown stuff) that many things depend on. It's the good algae NOAA Ocean Explorer: Estuary to the Abyss

I always associate excessive green fuzzy algae of this kind with pollution (usually phosphates or sewage), stagnant water, and bad oxygen levels - but that is based on freshwater experience.

**Jdarg** · 09-16-2010, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by scooterbug44

I don't know, but it sure is stinky!

I know the scientists are concerned about the oil harming the Sargassum algae (the brown stuff) that many things depend on. It's the good algae NOAA Ocean Explorer: Estuary to the Abyss

I always associate excessive green fuzzy algae of this kind with pollution (usually phosphates or sewage), stagnant water, and bad oxygen levels - but that is based on freshwater experience.

Bdarg read that the extended June grass/algae bloom period might be due to the rainfall this summer- we had a lot, which washed so much fertilizer into the Gulf and other waters. It looks like that algae was hit with a big batch of fertilizer doesn't it!

**Lady D** · 09-16-2010, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by Jenny Dargavell

Bdarg read that the extended June grass/algae bloom period might be due to the rainfall this summer- we had a lot, which washed so much fertilizer into the Gulf and other waters. It looks like that algae was hit with a big batch of fertilizer doesn't it!

So that is back. We saw that Friday night through Monday when we were down but that Monday evening it cleared away. From Tuesday on until we left the following Sunday morning the water was back to its normal beautiful clear emerald green color. Hate to see that it's back.