JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) issued a contact advisory for a section of the Pearl River from the Highway 25 bridge to the Low Head Dam due to the presence of a Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB).

On September 24, 2025, the agency received a report of an algal bloom in the Pearl River upstream of the Low Head Dam. MDEQ staff investigated the report and collected samples for analysis, and the results confirmed the presence of several species of algae that could be harmful to humans if contact occurs.

The agency is advising the public to avoid contact with the affected waters until further notice. Exposure to HABs can pose risks to people and mammals through skin contact, inhalation, or ingestion.

According to MDEQ, HABs develop when nutrients in the water combine with environmental conditions such as slow or stagnant water flow, excessive sunlight, and warm temperatures.

MDEQ will monitor the affected area.