morgan heim_red tide-1.jpg
Algal blooms flourish in the lower Chesapeake Bay following a storm that dumped nearly five inches of rain in some areas of Virginia Beach and Norfolk, Virginia. Here, rain, temperatures soaring above 100 degrees farenheit, and pollution made for ideal algal bloom conditions, Saturday, July 31, 2010. Nicknamed the Mahogany Tides, this algae can lead to toxic conditions if consumed, raising the risk of illness and infection, as well as blocking light needed by other marine creatures. As the algae dies, the organisms will also deplete oxygen levels, putting other wildlife at risk. (Photo/Morgan Heim)