0verview: NE Creek Algae & Mud
Updated: 10 Feb 07
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Photos in this folder reflect conditions in September & October of 2006, and were contributed by members of the Jordan Lake Watch Amphibious Expedition Force.
The area of extremely muddy, turbid water is Jordan Lake at the mouth of Northeast Creek, east of the Highway 751 bridge, and the waters of the Creek itself. The probable source of the mud is a kilometer or two upstream -- the intense construction near and/or in the Amberly development. Despite the use of so-called Best Management Practices, the effects of such intense development can be seen in this basin after every rain.
Of greater concern to recreational users (paddlers, fishers, swimmers): these waters of NE Creek are currently supporting potentially-harmful Algae Blooms, probably from Euglenoid and other species.(Samples have been collected, lab confirmation pending.) These algae tend to be associated with over-nutrification of the water, which in this case could be related to the Durham wastewater treatment plant not far upstream.
The three more-distant photos (taken from the751 causeway in September) show a plume of algae as it enters the embayment from NE Creek. The streak through the center of the images that appears to be a long, slender peninsula is not land, but rather algae in open water about 1-2 feet (or, half a canoe paddle) deep. Algae can also be seen as greenish-yellow areas further back upstream.
The many closer, on-the-water images show the greenish-yellow blooms on top of the incredibly muddy water, with occasional tinges of the reddish hue so characteristic of Euglena.
For social & ecological context we've also included a few of the residential & recreational users of these waters whose health is now threatened by this contamination.
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To learn more about how YOU become Part of the Solution to the myriad ecological, policy, and enforcement problems facing Jordan Lake & its primary tributary, the Haw River, please contact the Haw River Assembly!
visit the Haw River Assembly Website: call the Haw River Assembly office: 919 - 542 - 5790
email the Haw River Assembly office:
Comments are welcome: jordan.lake.watch@earthlink.net