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Rick Beauregard

Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring

Nearshore Habitat
Map showing sampling locations in Drayton Harbor and Birch Bay

The SoundToxins monitoring network, managed by Washington Sea Grant, monitors over three dozen sites for Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) throughout the Salish Sea. In 2023, the MRC added two additional sites in Whatcom County that were not previously monitored by SoundToxins: Drayton Harbor Semiahmoo Marina and Birch Bay Village Marina. These sites are monitored for phytoplankton weekly from March-October and every other week from November-February. Samples are analyzed microscopically for phytoplankton concentrations, focusing on several potential HAB species. This HAB data provides information to management agencies and scientists to effectively manage shellfish closures for public safety. 

The goal of this work is to provide HAB monitoring data for the northern part of Whatcom County. These sites are important to monitor for HABs due to their close proximity to tribal, recreational, and commercial shellfish growing and harvesting areas and due to high concentrations of HAB species that have historically been documented in this area. This data is also used to inform the Shellfish Safety Map managed by the Washington Department of Health (WA DOH).

WA DOH Shellfish Safety Map

Dana Daniels

Volunteers conduct microscopic identification of HAB species

Volunteers conduct microscopic identification of HAB species.

Volunteers collect environmental data and a plankton sample for analysis

Volunteers collect environmental data and a plankton sample for HAB analysis.

Infographic describing the harmful algal bloom monitoring project
Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring