15-Mile Algae Slick Fouls James River East Of Richmond - Times-Dispatch

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State officials are investigating an unusually large outbreak of algae in the James River at Hopewell.

Virginia Commonwealth University biologist Paul Bukaveckas noticed the outbreak, or bloom, late last week. He reported it Tuesday after test results confirmed extremely high concentrations of the microscopic plants. "This is a very large algal bloom," Bukaveckas said yesterday.

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VCU's Bukaveckas said the outbreak stretches for roughly 15 miles from above Hopewell to well below the city. Bukaveckas said the algae were not visible in the main channel of the greenish-brown James, but they slickened the surface in the backwaters.

The algae appear to be on the decline now, but they could hang around in significant concentrations for weeks. Algae outbreaks occur persistently around Hopewell. Sewage-plant discharges from the Richmond and Hopewell areas are largely to blame, Bukaveckas said.

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http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/sports.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-07-24-0050.html