C-HARM
Model 

HABMAP
Shore Station Data

CDPH Phytoplankton Data 

Marine Mammal and Seabird
Stranding Data

Pseudo-nitzschia - C-HARM tells us where conditions are suitable for Pseudo-nitzschia spp. (all size classes) to grow well and where they might be more likely to produce domoic acid (DA). The monthly mean plot of C-HARM Pseudo-nitzschia bloom probability indicates higher likelihood of blooms in a fairly narrow band along the coast with broad patches of high probabilities offshore. Observed abundance of both "seriata" and "delicatissima" size classes spiked at the southern California HABMAP stations towards the end of February, particularly for the more toxigenic seriata group, in conjunction with an influx of stranded marine mammals and birds in the Orange and San Diego Counties. Mean C-HARM maps of the last week of February (not shown here) predict higher patches of offshore and even nearshore Pseudo-nitzschia bloom activity in those southern-most Southern California Bight regions, consistent with this up-tick in Pseudo-nitzschia biomass near pier sites. These observations are also consistent with an uptick in Pseudo-nitzschia spp. relative abundance CDPH sampling from LA to Orange County.

Domoic Acid - C-HARM also tells us where DA might be more likely to occur at high levels. Mean pDA likelihood mirrors the Pseudo-nitzschia bloom likelihood to some extent, with higher probabilities near the coast, although pDA was predicted to be even more likely in the Southern California Bight offshore waters than for Pseudo-nitzschia in those offshore, southern-most regions. Mean cDA was somewhat inverted from pDA, with very low nearshore probabilities and some enhanced activity in the southern-most SCB that is consistent what was described for the last week of Februrary for C-HARM Pseudo-nitzschia maps. This may indicate rapid growth of Pseudo-nitzschia in the region and high cDA production rates. It is too soon to know if this is the central cause of the seemingly DA-related marine mammal and seabird strandings recorded by PMMC and SeaWorld, but it is highly suggestive of a HAB connection. PMMC says they are seeing three times the stranding levels from the same time in 2018. We do not yet have the observed DA records from those HABMAP stations with which to compare the phytoplankton cell counts. In contrast, TMMC in Sausalito observed a decrease in marine mammal strandings from DA-toxicosis since January. It should be noted that the Dungeness crab commercial fleet is being required to terminate operations early this year (by April 15) to reduce spring-time interaction with whale populations feeding in the nearshore environment.

Alexandrium - HABMAP records for Alexandrium at pier sites show no activity from January to February 2019, which is consistent to little or no increases in the relative abundance of this dinoflagellate as measured by the CDPH volunteer phytoplankton monitoring network.

C-HARM Model

Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf

Cal Poly Pier

Stearns Wharf

Santa Monica Pier

Santa Monica Pier discrete chlorophyll and nutrient data are not available at this time.

Newport Beach Pier

Scripps Pier

Scripps Pier discrete chlorophyll and nutrient data are not available at this time.

CDPH observations for Pseudo-nitzschia spp. and Alexandrium spp.

From 1-28 February 2019, water samples were collected by volunteers and sent to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) for analysis. Pseudo-nitzschia spp. were detected in 26 of the 74 samples. Percent composition of Pseudo-nitzschia spp. was greatest on February 26th at Agua Hedionda Lagoon (8% composition) and on February 11th at Santa Monica Pier (7% composition). Alexandrium spp. were detected in low levels (<0.5% composition) in 5 of the 27 samples on February 8th, 10th, and 18th. You can also view CDPH weekly map layers of Pseudo-nitzschia and Alexandrium here.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) issued no health advisories due to domoic acid in the month of February. 

For the latest closures and updates, please visit the CDFW Health Advisories page. Data are provided by the California Department of Public Health, Environmental Management Branch.