No, the orange-red water along Lincoln Park’s shore isn’t a spill. Looks like noctiluca’s back

Thanks to Ellen P. for the photo from Lincoln Park’s north shore. If you’ve never seen, nor heard about, that before, it’s a startling sight – orange-red water along the beach. But it’s not a spill. Just about every year in mid-to-late spring, an algae bloom called noctiluca shows up. Pending official verification (we have a inquiry out), that’s almost certainly what this is. The state Ecology Department says it’s not toxic but it can be irritating, so don’t go wading in it! (This is a bit earlier than our first mentions in many previous years – last year, it was late May.)

2 Replies to "No, the orange-red water along Lincoln Park's shore isn't a spill. Looks like noctiluca's back"

  • Kersti Muul May 1, 2024 (6:46 pm)

    It definitely is Noctiluca and there is another bloom up in Edmonds/Kingston area

  • Anna May 3, 2024 (10:40 am)

    Spotted Monday 4/30 in Burien at Seahurst Ed Munro Park!

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