While sometimes beautiful, algal blooms can cause death in both humans and animals. Many inland watersheds are susceptible to harmful algal blooms generated by cyanobacteria, or toxic algae. The state of Georgia is particularly vulnerable due to its high temperatures during summer, long exposure to sunlight, and runoff of nutrients from local farms. Drinking cyanobacteria-contaminated can cause digestive and liver damage, skin and eye irritation, and possibly even death. The blanket of scum prevents light from reaching plants below the water which leads to the degradation of aquatic habitats and massive fish kills. Clearly this is bad for the environment and the economy! CyanoTRACKER needs volunteers to contribute their observations of cyanobacteria algal blooms through social media or email, so that water managers can approach the problem with targeted solutions.

http://cyanotracker.uga.edu/index.htm