There different 24 species of bryzoa that have been identified in North America. P. Magnifica is the one we are all familiar with. Could it be one of the lesser known species?
On the coffer colored water. Do you mean like black coffee or browner? A bloom can transition to brown as zooplankton slowly overtake the production of phytoplankton. If this is what is happening you should be able to see the larger zooplankton moving in sample of the water.
