Blue-green algae Report – 17 March 2023
WaterNSW has released a blue-green algae report for the Murray River, Darling River, Menindee Lakes and Darling Anabranch.
Summary for Wentworth Shire:
RED ALERT
Murray River at Lock 9 & Fort Courage
Darling River at the Great Darling Anabranch – Silver City Highway crossing
AMBER ALERT
Murray River at Buronga & Curlwaa
Darling River at Tolarno, Pooncarie, Burtundy, Ellerslie and Tapio.
Read the full blue-green algae report (17 March 2023):
Alert Definitions for Recreational Waters
Alert Definitions as specified in The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreational Water 2008. The use of these guidelines is endorsed by the Scientific Subcommittee of the NSW Algal Advisory Group.
RED ALERT
These alert levels represent ‘bloom’ conditions. Water will appear green or discoloured and clumps or scums could be visible. It can also give off a strong musty or organic odour. Algae may be toxic to humans and animals. Contact with or use of water from red alert areas should be avoided due to the risk of eye and skin irritation. Drinking untreated or boiled water from these supplies can cause stomach upsets. Alternative water supplies should be sought or activated carbon treatment employed to remove toxins. People should not fish when an algal scum is present. Owners should keep dogs away from high alert areas and provide alternative watering points for stock.
AMBER ALERT
Blue-green algae may be multiplying, and the water may have a green tinge and musty or organic taste and odour. The water should be considered as unsuitable for potable use and alternative supplies or prior treatment of raw water for domestic purposes should be considered. The water may also be unsuitable for stock watering. Generally suitable for water sports, however people are advised to exercise caution in these areas, as blue-green algal concentrations can rise to red alert levels quickly under warm, calm weather conditions.
GREEN ALERT
Blue-green algae occur naturally at low numbers. At these concentrations, algae would not normally be visible, however some species may affect taste and odour of water even at
low numbers and does not pose any problems for recreational, stock or household use.
Blue-green algae Report
WaterNSW has released a blue-green algae report for the Murray River, Darling River, Menindee Lakes and Darling Anabranch.
Summary for Wentworth Shire:
RED ALERT
Murray River at Lock 9 (Lower Murray Water)
Darling River at Pooncarie as well as the Great Darling Anabranch at the Silver City Highway crossing
AMBER ALERT
Murray River at Curlwaa
Darling River at Tolarno, Burtundy, Ellerslie and Tapio.
Read the full blue-green algae report (9 March 2023):
Alert Definitions for Recreational Waters
Alert Definitions as specified in The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreational Water 2008. The use of these guidelines is endorsed by the Scientific Subcommittee of the NSW Algal Advisory Group.
RED ALERT
These alert levels represent ‘bloom’ conditions. Water will appear green or discoloured and clumps or scums could be visible. It can also give off a strong musty or organic odour. Algae may be toxic to humans and animals. Contact with or use of water from red alert areas should be avoided due to the risk of eye and skin irritation. Drinking untreated or boiled water from these supplies can cause stomach upsets. Alternative water supplies should be sought or activated carbon treatment employed to remove toxins. People should not fish when an algal scum is present. Owners should keep dogs away from high alert areas and provide alternative watering points for stock.
AMBER ALERT
Blue-green algae may be multiplying, and the water may have a green tinge and musty or organic taste and odour. The water should be considered as unsuitable for potable use and alternative supplies or prior treatment of raw water for domestic purposes should be considered. The water may also be unsuitable for stock watering. Generally suitable for water sports, however people are advised to exercise caution in these areas, as blue-green algal concentrations can rise to red alert levels quickly under warm, calm weather conditions.
GREEN ALERT
Blue-green algae occur naturally at low numbers. At these concentrations, algae would not normally be visible, however some species may affect taste and odour of water even at
low numbers and does not pose any problems for recreational, stock or household use.
Blue-green algae Report
WaterNSW has released a blue-green algae report for the Murray River, Darling River, Menindee Lakes and Darling Anabranch.
Summary for Wentworth Shire:
RED ALERT
Darling River at Pooncarie, Burtundy & Ellerslie
Great Darling Anabranch at the Silver City Highway crossing
AMBER ALERT
Murray River at Curlwaa
Read the full blue-green algae report (24 February 2023):
Alert Definitions for Recreational Waters
Alert Definitions as specified in The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreational Water 2008. The use of these guidelines is endorsed by the Scientific Subcommittee of the NSW Algal Advisory Group.
RED ALERT
These alert levels represent ‘bloom’ conditions. Water will appear green or discoloured and clumps or scums could be visible. It can also give off a strong musty or organic odour. Algae may be toxic to humans and animals. Contact with or use of water from red alert areas should be avoided due to the risk of eye and skin irritation. Drinking untreated or boiled water from these supplies can cause stomach upsets. Alternative water supplies should be sought or activated carbon treatment employed to remove toxins. People should not fish when an algal scum is present. Owners should keep dogs away from high alert areas and provide alternative watering points for stock.
AMBER ALERT
Blue-green algae may be multiplying, and the water may have a green tinge and musty or organic taste and odour. The water should be considered as unsuitable for potable use and alternative supplies or prior treatment of raw water for domestic purposes should be considered. The water may also be unsuitable for stock watering. Generally suitable for water sports, however people are advised to exercise caution in these areas, as blue-green algal concentrations can rise to red alert levels quickly under warm, calm weather conditions.
GREEN ALERT
Blue-green algae occur naturally at low numbers. At these concentrations, algae would not normally be visible, however some species may affect taste and odour of water even at
low numbers and does not pose any problems for recreational, stock or household use.
Blue-green algae Report
WaterNSW has released a blue-green algae report for the Murray River, Darling River and Menindee Lakes.
Summary for Wentworth Shire:
RED ALERT
Darling River at Pooncarie, Burtundy & Ellerslie
Darling Anabranch at the Silver City Highway crossing
AMBER ALERT
Murray River at Curlwaa
Read the full blue-green algae report (17 February 2023):
Alert Definitions for Recreational Waters
Alert Definitions as specified in The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreational Water 2008. The use of these guidelines is endorsed by the Scientific Subcommittee of the NSW Algal Advisory Group.
RED ALERT
These alert levels represent ‘bloom’ conditions. Water will appear green or discoloured and clumps or scums could be visible. It can also give off a strong musty or organic odour. Algae may be toxic to humans and animals. Contact with or use of water from red alert areas should be avoided due to the risk of eye and skin irritation. Drinking untreated or boiled water from these supplies can cause stomach upsets. Alternative water supplies should be sought or activated carbon treatment employed to remove toxins. People should not fish when an algal scum is present. Owners should keep dogs away from high alert areas and provide alternative watering points for stock.
AMBER ALERT
Blue-green algae may be multiplying, and the water may have a green tinge and musty or organic taste and odour. The water should be considered as unsuitable for potable use and alternative supplies or prior treatment of raw water for domestic purposes should be considered. The water may also be unsuitable for stock watering. Generally suitable for water sports, however people are advised to exercise caution in these areas, as blue-green algal concentrations can rise to red alert levels quickly under warm, calm weather conditions.
GREEN ALERT
Blue-green algae occur naturally at low numbers. At these concentrations, algae would not normally be visible, however some species may affect taste and odour of water even at
low numbers and does not pose any problems for recreational, stock or household use.
Blue-green algae Report
WaterNSW has released a blue-green algae report for the Murray River, Darling River and Menindee Lakes.
Summary for Wentworth Shire:
RED ALERT
Darling River at Pooncarie, Burtundy & Ellerslie
Darling Anabranch at the Silver City Highway crossing
AMBER ALERT
Murray River at Curlwaa
Read the full blue-green algae report (10 February 2023):
Read the media release (13 February 2023):
Alert Definitions for Recreational Waters
Alert Definitions as specified in The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Guidelines for Managing Risks in Recreational Water 2008. The use of these guidelines is endorsed by the Scientific Subcommittee of the NSW Algal Advisory Group.
RED ALERT
These alert levels represent ‘bloom’ conditions. Water will appear green or discoloured and clumps or scums could be visible. It can also give off a strong musty or organic odour. Algae may be toxic to humans and animals. Contact with or use of water from red alert areas should be avoided due to the risk of eye and skin irritation. Drinking untreated or boiled water from these supplies can cause stomach upsets. Alternative water supplies should be sought or activated carbon treatment employed to remove toxins. People should not fish when an algal scum is present. Owners should keep dogs away from high alert areas and provide alternative watering points for stock.
AMBER ALERT
Blue-green algae may be multiplying, and the water may have a green tinge and musty or organic taste and odour. The water should be considered as unsuitable for potable use and alternative supplies or prior treatment of raw water for domestic purposes should be considered. The water may also be unsuitable for stock watering. Generally suitable for water sports, however people are advised to exercise caution in these areas, as blue-green algal concentrations can rise to red alert levels quickly under warm, calm weather conditions.
GREEN ALERT
Blue-green algae occur naturally at low numbers. At these concentrations, algae would not normally be visible, however some species may affect taste and odour of water even at
low numbers and does not pose any problems for recreational, stock or household use.
Algae alerts remain for Murray River
Blue-green algae red alerts remain in place along the lower Murray River at the following locations: Euston weir, Mt Dispersion, Red Cliffs/Colignan, Buronga, Merbein, Curlwaa, Wentworth and Fort Courage.
The latest results from Water NSW and Lower Murray Water indicate there’s been a modest reduction in cell growth over the past 10 days where Dolichospermum and Chrysosporum spp. dominate the algal assemblage.
Blooms comprising predominantly Nostocales (e.g. D. plantonicum) tend to occur in mid-Autumn, and in some systems can be followed by Microcystis blooms.
A successional shift to densities of colony forming species, such as Microcystis is unlikely at this point.
The cyanobacteria population in the lower Murray River contains <5% species from the Orders, Chroococcales (Microcystis) or Oscillatoriales, and water temperatures are within the low risk range (<16 DegC).
The Red Alert previously issued for the Neimur River has been lifted.
Fort Courage Blue-green algae alert
New Blue-green algae red alerts are in place for the Murray River at Fort Courage, Tooleybuc and Euston Weir.
A red alert remains in place on the Murray River from Merbein to Fort Courage.
The red alert for Mildura has been lifted following two consecutive results from Lower Murray Water.
A red alert has also been issued for the Niemur River at Barham – Moulamein Rd, following results from ad hoc sampling last week.
Blooms reported for the Darling River at Menindee and Pooncarie were sampled routinely and low numbers of cyanobacteria were recorded.
Algae alerts remain in place
Red alerts remain in place for Blue-green algae on the Murray River at Mt Dispersion and the Murray River downstream from Mildura Marina to Wentworth.
Following recent results at Mildura, the red alert may be reduced if another low result is received next week.
Blooms have been reported for the Darling River at Menindee and Pooncarie.
Sampling was carried out on 6 April although those results are expected early next week.
See https://www.waternsw.com.au/water-quality/algae for more information.
Red alert for Blue-green Algae in lower Murray River
A red alert level warning (high alert) is currently in place for the Murray River at Mount Dispersion and from downstream of Mildura Marina to Wentworth.
The red alert for Murray River from Red Cliffs to Mildura Marina has been lifted.
WaterNSW and Lower Murray Water will continue to monitor sites in the area and report the results as soon as they become available.
A red alert level warning indicates that people should not undertake recreational activities where they may be coming into direct contact with the water. Contact with the water may also pose a threat to livestock, and pets.
People should not eat mussels or crayfish from Red Alert warning areas.
A precautionary approach should be applied to fishing during bloom events.
Any fish caught should be cleaned and washed thoroughly in uncontaminated water and any internal organs disposed of before consumption.
Fish fillet meals from algal bloom affected areas should be limited to 1-2 servings per week.
Avoiding fishing in a bloom location is the best way to minimise risk, particularly catching and eating fish from locations with severe blooms that last extended periods of time.
Blue-green algae usually appear as green paint-like scums on the surface, near the edges, or as greenish clumps throughout the water.
The water can appear to be dirty, green or discoloured and a strong musty or earthy odour may be noticed.
Potentially harmful algal blooms tend to occur when there are warm water temperatures and sunny days, low turbidity and calm water conditions where water may stratify.
It is not possible to predict how long the algae will remain at high levels.
Regular monitoring will continue, and the alert will be lifted as soon as the high levels of algae dissipate.
People who believe they may have been affected by blue-green algae are advised to seek medical advice.
Updates about blue-green algae blooms and red level warning areas can be obtained by visiting – http://www.waternsw.com.au/water-quality/algae.