Algae Blooms on Buffalo National River Mainly a Nuisance

The recent heat wave has had an affect not only on land but also on area waters. The conditions have reportedly caused algae to bloom on the Buffalo National River.

The story below from KTLO:

Little Rock resident Lucas Driver is an an ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey’s Lower Mississippi Gulf Water Science Center. According to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Driver says the filamentous algae blooms are naturally occurring in just about all fresh waters, but they can reach nuisance levels under certain conditions. The term “bloom” refers to algae colonies growing out of control.

According to a 2018 news release from the national park, “Some algae is important to a healthy ecosystem and most species are harmless, although a nuisance to paddlers, swimmers and fishers.” Buffalo River Ecologist Shawn Hodges tells the newspaper, “Most of our blooms are just nuisance algae. It’s unsightly. It’s not aesthetically pleasing, but it’s there. … I’m not surprised to hear reports of algal blooms this time of year, especially when we’re having 100-degree days.”

If the algae contines to grow, it can cause some problems. The blooms could rob fish, frogs and invertebrates of oxygen.

Hodges says he has worked at the national park since 2004. He saw algae blooms that year and the next, but they’re more extensive now. Hodges says he’s never seen an algae bloom on the Buffalo that killed fish.