The Montana Department of Environmental Quality continues to look at an outbreak of algae on the Smith River.
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality continues to look at an outbreak of algae on the Smith River.
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) continues to work on a study to determine what led to an outbreak of algae growth on the Smith River.
The DEQ had scheduled public meetings to provide an update, but coronavirus outbreak concerns lead them to cancel and provide information online. The algae in question, cladophora, is not harmful to humans, but there are concerns of impacts to swimming, fishing, and boating. Reports of algae growth began in 2015.
Chace Bell, a DEQ water quality monitoring and assessment specialist, told Yellowstone Public Radio a question the study is attempting to answer is how the algae suddenly appeared in Smith River. The study is looking at phosphorus levels and seeing if there is a relationship between it and the water. He described the algae as growing up to a meter long and appearing in different colors.
The river flows through canyons and forests and is a popular venue for floating.
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