Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring: Challenges and Lessons Learned

Transcription

1 Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring: Challenges and Lessons Learned Anne Wilkinson, PhD Wenck Associates Colorado Lake and Reservoir Management Association Fall Meeting 2018 November 19, October 31, 2018

2 Presentation Outline Part 1: Introduction to Harmful Algal Bloom Risk Factors & Monitoring Strategies Part 2: CO Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring and Management Water Research Foundation Grant Overview Common Concerns Opportunities for Communal Resources Lessons Learned What s Next? 2

3 Part 1:Introduction to Harmful Algal Bloom Risk Factors & Monitoring Strategies 3

4 200 μm Freshwater microscopic photosynthetic microorganisms that have the potential to form Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) 4 Madison Lake, MN July 2016

5 Toxicity Harmful Algal Blooms and Public Health Microcystin is regulated in drinking water by the EPA and World Health Organization Microcystin and other cyanotoxins cause cancer, GI illness, and skin rash Cyanotoxins present in HABs are fatal to pets and wildlife Neurotoxin (nervous system) Saxitoxin Anatoxin BMAA OHIO SEA GRANT AND STONE LABORATORY Hepatotoxin (liver) Microcystin Cylindrospermopsin Toxin Reference Doses Dioxin ( mg/kg-d) Microcystin LR ( mg/kg-d) Saxitoxin ( mg/kg-d) PCBs ( mg/kg-d) Cylindrospermopsin ( mg/kg-d) Methylmercury ( mg/kg-d) Anatoxin-A ( mg/kg-d) DDT ( mg/kg-d) Selenium (0.005 mg/kg-d) Botulinum toxin A (0.001 mg/kg-d) Alachlor (0.01 mg/kg-d) Cyanide (0.02 mg/kg-d) Atrazine (0.04 mg/kg-d) Fluoride (0.06 mg/kg-d) Chlorine (0.1 mg/kg-d) Aluminum (1 mg/kg-d) Ethylene Glycol (2 mg/kg-d) Dermatoxin (skin) Lyngbyatoxin Lipopolysaccharides 5

6 Possible causes of HABs Excess macro-nutrients-(phosphate, Nitrate) e.g. Paerl et al Excess inorganic carbon e.g. Song et al Warm temperatures e.g Elliot 2012 ;You et al Stable Stratification Paerl and Huisman 2009, Visser et al Anthropogenic Influences Industrialized Farming Climate Change Cyanobacteria blooms and their risk factors are increasing across the globe! 6

7 Cyanobacteria Blooms in Lakes Driven by codependent environmental conditions rather than a single variable Cyanobacteria accumulation is highly spatially and temporally transient Beach Prediction and management is difficult Madison Lake July,

8 Importance of Understanding HAB Vertical Variability Risk of drinking water contamination is dependent on depth of intakes Current monitoring strategies could be underestimating HABs We need to understand Where, When and How much to sample to get a representative data to accurately observing HAB dynamics Seasonal high resolution, high frequency monitoring of cyanobacteria biomass concurrent with high resolution seasonal meteorological, temperature and water quality data is necessary to capture complex bloom dynamics 8

9 Research Station Measurements: Meteorological Station (every 5 minutes) - wind speed, wind direction, precipitation, Air temperature, Ambient light Thermistor Chain (every 5 minutes) Water Temperature Profiler (every 2hours; every 0.5m) PAR penetration ph Dissolved oxygen Specific Conductivity Phycocyanin (cyanobacteria) Water Samples (every week; every1m) Cyanobacteria composition Nutrients Cyanotoxins (Total Microcystin) 9

10 Seasonal Water Quality Monitoring Site Madison Lake km South Center Lake 10

11 Nutrient Concentrations Conditions Madison Lake The nitrate+nitrite conditions were all <0.05 mg/l during our observation periods South Center Lake Phosphate concentrations were higher in Madison Lake as compared to South Center Lake Phosphate concentrations are high in the epilimnion The variability in either hypo/epilimnetic phosphate concentrations cannot entirely describe the variability in cyanobacteria biovolume (BV) 11

12 z (m) (µm 3 /ml) BV Distribution in the water column Madison Lake During the stratified period, the BV is accumulated above the thermocline 6 8 7/19/16 7/29/16 8/8/16 8/18/16 8/28/16 9/7/16 9/17/16 9/27/16 South Center Lake 4 2 However, when the stratification weakens the BV is uniformly distributed throughout the water column in Madison Lake We would like to describe this vertical BV distribution. 12

13 BV Heterogeneity BV max /BV ave quantifies BV stratification in the water column Overall, Madison Lake has lower BV heterogeneity BV is uniform during the weak stratification in Madison Lake ML ML SC BV/BV ave 13

14 BV Heterogeneity vs Thermal Structure unstable stable Higher temperature and stratification in the water column means more stratified distribution of Cyanobacteria Easily measurable parameters can inform BV distribution 14

15 BV distribution above the thermocline 15

16 Heterogeneity in Surface Layer uniform peak There are two distributions observed in the BV above the thermocline In terms of sampling having this peak is a problem because BV can be undersampled 16

17 Predicting BV distributions Using wind and the depth of the surface layer we can predict when a peak will occur. We the mixing is higher there is a greater probably of uniform distribution 17

18 BV and Microcystin Distribution z/z T z/z T BV ( m 3 /ml) Madison Lake z/z T South 1.0 Center Lake z/z T 0.0 7/29/16 8/3/ /12/ /29/ /3/ /12/ x x x x x BV ( m 3 /ml) z/z T 0.0 8/11/ /15/17 7/21/ /2/17 8/4/17 8/7/ MC ( g/l) 3.0 8/11/ x x x x x10 8 6/15/17 BV ( m 3 7/21/17 /ml) 1.0 8/2/ /4/17 8/7/ x x x x x z/z T 2.5 MC ( g/l) MC is higher in South Center Lake BV and MC are distributed above the thermocline 18

19 MC ( g/l) Microcystin vs Cyanobacteria BV MC=9.02x10-9 BV R 2 =0.84 South Center Lake MC and BV are highly correlated Madison Lake Equation y = a + b*x Plot MC_ave The Weightvertical distributions No Weighting of BV and Intercept ± Slope E-9 ± E-10 MC Residual are Sum of Squares the statistically similar Pearson's r R-Square(COD) Adj. R-Square MC=1.5x10-9 BV R 2 = x10 7 2x10 7 3x10 7 4x10 7 5x10 7 6x10 7 7x10 7 8x10 7 9x10 7 1x10 8 BV ( m 3 /ml) Still, The regression is different probably because of cyanobacteria composition 19

20 Recommendations: Sampling Protocol k When?: We saw BV and MC anytime from ice out to ice over Where and How many samples?: BV PROFILE Stc p T s thermistor chain ABOVE THE THERMOCLINE UNIFORM IN THE WATER COLUMN Re SL thermistor chain, wind UNIFORM IN THE SURFACE MIXING LAYER FORMING LOCAL PEAKS SAMPLE ONE SAMPLE ANYWHERE ABOVE THE THERMOCLINE MANY SAMPLES ABOVE THE THERMOCLINE ONE SAMPLE ANYWHERE IN THE WATER COLUMN 20

21 Part 2: CO Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring and Management 21

22 Risks of Harmful Algal Blooms in Reservoirs Managing HABs in reservoirs is particularly important as they serve as a drinking water source Cyanotoxins can be difficult to predict, detect and remove from raw water. Quick response is necessary to protect human health Frequent consistent monitoring and a response plan are necessary 22

23 Taste and Odor and Cyanobacteria Cyanobacteria can coproduce taste and odor compounds and cyanotoxins Cyanotoxins and taste and odor compounds do cooccur. 23

24 WRF grant overview Goal: To provide a critical evaluation of sampling plans before a bloom occurs to increase confidence and minimize risk of missing something potentially harmful. 24

25 Utility Partners NALMS had 10 local reservoir managers and water utilities in the Denver area All committed to examining HAB monitoring and Management strategies in their reservoirs 25

26 Common Concerns Sampling frequency Choice of data analysis Notification strategy Analysis strategy Management Strategies and Success What can I do with all this data? Unpreparedness or feeling behind the curve Link with Taste and Odor 26

27 Variety within the Partner Network Monitoring Frequency Data Analysis Toxins Cyanobacteria Biomass Management 27

28 Opportunities for Communal Resources Sampling and Monitoring Plans Response and Public Awareness strategies Recommendations for Data Analysis HAB Management Successes/Challenges Network for Equipment Training/Knowledge Photo Library for FlowCAM Sample sharing 28

29 Lessons Learned There has been a lot work put in to address HABs locally, across the region. It is now time to share our collective experiences to improve HAB monitoring and response for everyone. 29

30 What s Next? Utility Partnership Utah Lake, 2016 Desert News Revisit CO HAB work group HAB workshop/special session 30

31 Thank you! 31