HABs in New York. Lewis McCaffrey PhD, Research Scientist. Finger Lakes Watershed Hub Division of Water, Bureau of Water Assessment & Management

Transcription

1 1 HABs in New York Lewis McCaffrey PhD, Research Scientist Finger Lakes Watershed Hub Division of Water, Bureau of Water Assessment & Management Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association October, 2017

2 2 Outline 1. Background/Context 2. DEC HABs Program 3. Monitoring, Surveillance, and Sampling 4. DEC Bloom Status Designation 5. Bloom Reporting and Outreach 6. Research and Managing NY Waters

3 3 NYSDEC Structure and Jurisdiction DEC functions and activities driven by requirements of the Federal Clean Water Act (CWA) and NYS Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) structured to protect environmental health also protects public health NYSDEC Division of Water (DOW) Bureau of Water Assessment & Management Lake Monitoring and Assessment Section HABs Program Finger Lakes Water Hub

4 4 Other Agencies and Responsibilities 1. NYS Dept. of Health (DOH) drinking water monitoring (toxins, IDs) develop/distribute swimming protocols at regulated bathing beaches (closures/reopenings) investigate reports of human illnesses that may be related to HABs 2. Office of Parks Recreation & Historical Preservation (OPRHP) manage swimming areas at state parks conduct visual surveillance of beach conditions, support of beach closure (and re-openings)

5 5 DEC HABs Program 1. Coordinate HABs surveillance and sampling statewide to track and record bloom reports: professional and volunteer surveillance 2. Determine/assign bloom status, receive/interpret lab results 3. Education and outreach programs communicate health risks interagency cooperation/coordination provide results to local stakeholders weekly updates on the DEC HABs website

6 6 DEC HABs Program 4. Conduct/leverage research add to knowledge base likelihood of occurrence, identify causes 5. Management of NY waters HABs program management guided by science and applied research watershed planning and management tools

7 State Agency Partners NYSDOH monitors drinking water NYSDOH & OPRHIP monitor swimming areas NYSDOH communicates bloom reports & health risks County/regional staff report blooms/conduct sampling Primary Interest Groups Lake associations Recreational user groups Local governments/legislators Interested citizens Business owners Lake managers Researchers Medical providers/veterinarians NGOs/Environmental advocacy groups DEC HABs Program Conduct surveillance/sampling Evaluate bloom reports & analytical results Determine bloom status Communicate HABs occurrences Provide outreach and educational resources 7 Public Partners & Programs Monitor select waterbodies Report blooms, submit digital photos and/or collect samples Provide outreach to local communities Potential Exposure Groups Lakefront property owners Recreational users Pet owners Livestock animals Water supply users

8 8 Surveillance and Sampling Coordinated network of professional and volunteers Surveillance key component of HABs program visual evaluation of lake/shoreline conditions report to DEC via , digital photos Sampling consequence of a bloom report guided by a local coordinator SLPWA HABs surveillance zone 54

9 9 If Sampled, What Gets Measured? Type of Information Qualitative Microscopy Pigment/chlorophyll Concentration Toxin Concentration Example Very Dense Woronichinia, Microcystis, Dense Dolichospermum (aka Anaebena) Blue-green chlorophyll a levels = 1,000 µg/l Microcystin concentrations = 300 µg/l Dr. Christopher J. Gobler of SUNY Stony Brook University Dr. Gregory L. Boyer at SUNY ESF

10 10 Bloom Report and/or Digital Photos Received DEC Bloom Status Designation Is the bloom in a regulated swimming area? No Is the observer a professional? No (lay person) Yes SUSPICIOUS BLOOM Yes Does DEC HABs staff determine descriptions/imagery are credible/likely to be cyanobacteria? Collect a sample for analysis (if possible) BG Chla < 25 µg/l or non-cyano majority BG Chla 25 µg/l &/or cyano majority; or a regulated swimming area closed CONFIRMED BLOOM Microcystin 10 (open water) or 20 µg/l (shoreline) or high risk of other cyanotoxin exposure based on surveillance and sampling data No NO BLOOM CONFIRMED WITH HIGH TOXINS BLOOM

11 11 Bloom Designation No Bloom Suspicious Confirmed Confirmed with High Toxins A potential bloom report is filed DEC staff determines that the report is not a HAB

12 Non-HABs Examples 12

13 13 Bloom Designation No Bloom Suspicious Confirmed Confirmed with High Toxins Credible (visual) evidence from observer indicates: cyanobacteria and bloom conditions or a regulated swimming area has been closed Not (yet) verified by laboratory analysis

14 14 An easy one... SLPWA HABs surveillance zone 21

15 Bloom or no bloom? 15

16 16 Bloom Designation No Bloom Suspicious Confirmed Confirmed with High Toxins HAB confirmation requires sample collection: 1. BG chlorophyll-a levels > 25 µg/l (interpretation of WHO guidance) 2. Dominance by BGA (fluoroprobe, microscopic analysis)

17 The Difficulty of Sample Collection 17 July 16 July 17

18 18 Bloom Designation No Bloom Suspicious Confirmed Confirmed with High Toxins High Toxins confirmed by: 1. Open water microcystin concentration 10 µg/l (ppb) 2. Shoreline microcystin concentration 20 µg/l (ppb) For ALL categories, public advised to AVOID it and REPORT it.

19 Results for

20 Results for

21 Results for

22 Results for

23 23 Education & Outreach Important function of DEC HABs Program Conduct presentations & trainings Weekly updates: MakingWaves Summary results in DEC & CSLAP reports notifications agency and regional staff lake associations other stakeholders

24 24 Example Notification Stakeholder list E.g. Seneca (39 individuals) Lake name, bloom location, bloom size Bloom Designation Analytical results (if available) algal composition, BG Chl-a toxins

25 25 Research, a Prelude to Management Data collection and ongoing analyses for insights: bloom occurrence, distribution, timing water chemistry indicators, trends, case studies and statistical analysis trophic interactions (invasives) environmental drivers and interannual variability temperature, light, wind watershed drivers (e.g., land use and nutrient loading) INTERACTIONS!

26 26 Control the Controllables Temperature, stratification, light availability, trophic interactions are important factors but are not easily controlled In a great majority of cases, nutrient input reductions are the most direct, simple, and ecologically/economically feasible CyanoHAB management strategy Paerl & Otten 2012

27 27 Nutrient Management Nutrient criteria development Watershed planning Total maximum daily loads, nine-element plans Construction/Stormwater programs Nutrient reduction strategies Point source restrictions Non-point and agricultural BMPs buffers, nutrient management plans, grassed waterways, etc. In-water body controls DEC s Trees for Tribs Program

28 28 HABS in Low Nutrient Systems Keuka Canandaigua Skaneateles What is causing HABs in low nutrient systems?

29 29 Wild Cards Affecting HABs 1. Climate change 2. Trophic interactions increased nutrient recycling selective feeding by dreissenid mussels 3. Emerging contaminants 4. Toxicity triggers 5. Causes of bloom collapse Otisco Lake at 30ft depth

30 30 Summary/Conclusions The DEC HABs program coordinates surveillance / sampling, assigns bloom status, provides results to stakeholders DEC conducts and leverages research to better manage and protect NYS freshwater resources The DEC and partners monitor and educate the public Surveillance networks are invaluable syracuse.com

31 31 Thank You Lewis McCaffrey PhD Senior Research Scientist Finger Lakes Water Hub, NYSDEC 615 Erie Bvd. West, Syracuse, NY (315) Connect with us: Facebook: Twitter: twitter.com/nysdec Flickr: