CCRW Waterkeeper, Riley Lewis, took a sample of the water in the middle of the bloom (near 34.568703, -77.394870). The site was accessed by drone and a sample was taken from the middle of the bloom.
"The water had a red tint and was very smelly (both signs of a potentially harmful bloom). I was able to ID the plankton as a type of marine dinoflagellates "Cochlodinium" which causes red tides and is known for causing fish kills around the world. The toxin they produce is harmful to finfish and shellfish but not much is known about this organism's toxicity to humans. Best to be safe and keep people and pets out of the water."
- Riley Lewis, White Oak Waterkeeper