Since the 1960s, St. Albans Bay has experienced significant alteration in its aquatic ecosystem due to prevalence of an algae-dominated environment. Extensive Cyanobacteria blooms are a severe response to continuous influx of phosphorus (P) from runoff. It is believed that poor circulation, especially applicable to the inner bay, limits water exchange and the P concentration increases over time. In this region, the algal blooms have caused significant property value depreciation, losses in tourism industry and more importantly health concerns. Mechanisms for increased primary productivity of algae depend on physical and geochemical parameters such as transparency, temperature, acidity, nutrient loading, oxygen abundance, nitrogen-P ratios and currents. None of the previous studies have considered the effects of hydrodynamics in their results. In 2007, 13 moorings collected over 1.2 million observations which were later melded with wind data. Preliminary findings show an average counterclockwise circulation in the inner and outer bays along with strong oscillatory circulation (1.7-3.5 d) linked to the larger Inland Sea. In the outer bay, there is a component of northward flow through the Ball Island and Burton Island passages. There appear to be phases of inflow of hypolimnic water from Inland Sea that also flood the inner bay.

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