Hanahan, South Carolina – The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) has issued a Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Watch for Goose Creek Reservoir in Hanahan, following confirmed reports of a toxin-producing algal bloom. The bloom is made up of Dolichospermum, a type of cyanobacteria also known as “blue-green algae” that can produce toxins harmful to humans, pets, and wildlife.
Algal blooms occur naturally in lakes, rivers, ponds, and coastal waters across the country. They are composed of microscopic plant-like organisms that thrive in warm, nutrient-rich environments. While many blooms are harmless, some species can produce toxins that endanger human and animal health. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are those that contain or have the potential to produce toxins.
HABs typically appear during the warmer, drier months and can last for weeks. Under the right conditions—such as high temperatures and stagnant water—algae and cyanobacteria can multiply rapidly, resulting in dense mats or discoloration in affected water bodies.
In addition to the Hanahan advisory, SCDES has issued a HAB Watch for Lake Wylie near Tega Cay, where a Microcystis bloom has been detected in a cove near Gauguin Lane and Palmyra Drive. Similar blooms were recently reported on the lake’s North Carolina side. Fortunately, current microcystin toxin levels in Goose Creek Reservoir and Lake Wylie remain below recreational water quality standards.
Meanwhile, the HAB Watch for Broadway Lake in Anderson has been lifted, indicating improved conditions.
SCDES has updated its Algal Bloom Monitoring map to reflect these changes, and it will continue to closely monitor the blooms. Residents should stay informed and avoid contact with discolored or scummy water, particularly in affected areas.
