Golden Alga Workshop Summary Report - Texas Parks & Wildlife ...

Historical Review of Golden Alga (Prymnesium parvum) Problems in Texas
Joan Glass
Resource Protection Division, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, 1601 E. Crest Dr.,
Waco, Texas 76705 USA
Abstract.--Since 1985, blooms of the golden alga Prymnesium parvum have been
documented as a major cause of fish kills in Texas river basins. Over 17.5 x 10 6 fish with
an estimated value of 6.5 million dollars have been killed by P. parvum. The majority of
the golden alga kills occur during the winter months, with the number and magnitude
increasing. In 2003 the fish kills within five river basins (19 lakes) culminated in over
6.4 x 10 6 fish killed with a value in excess of 2 million dollars. The Texas river basins
with confirmed golden alga fish kills are Canadian, Wichita (Red), Brazos, Pecos (Rio
Grande) and Colorado.
View the presentation
PWD RP T3200-1203