Harmful Algal Blooms: An Overview

Transcription

1 1 Harmful Algal Blooms: An Overview Anthony Prestigiacomo, Research Scientist Finger Lakes Watershed Hub Division of Water, Bureau of Water Assessment & Management NYSAC 2017 September 14, 2017

2 2 Presentation Outline 1. Cyanobacteria 2. Health concerns, briefly 3. Other harms 4. The DEC s HABs Program 5. What causes HABs? 6. What to do about HABs?

3 1. Cyanobacteria 3

4 4 Cyanobacteria (a.k.a. Blue-green Algae) Anaebena Cayuga Lake, July 2017 Present in nearly every aquatic environment Prokaryotic bacteria, numerous types/forms Contain chlorophyll and blue-green pigments (phycocyanins) Highly specialized and competitive: gas vacuoles (moderate buoyancy) fix nitrogen produce toxins

5 5

6 6 Acronym time: HABs H: Harmful production or potential to produce toxins A: Algal (ish) (freshwater HABs refer to cyanobacteria, not truly algae) B: Blooms: proliferation of cells, dense accumulations/concentrations

7 Characteristics of HABs: Know it when you see it DEC Harmful Algal Blooms webpage: 7 Spilled Paint Avoid exposure! Keep children and pets away from scums or discolored water Pea soup Streaks Dots/clumps

8 8 2. Health Concerns, briefly

9 9 Three Main Toxins Microcystins (liver toxin) Most common toxin in New York Anatoxins (nerve toxin) Potentially fatal to dogs Lipopolysacharides (endotoxins) Skin irritants and allergens Produced by most cyanobacteria Others

10 10 Routes of Exposure 1. Consumption: drinking water, incidental swallowing (recreation) 2. Inhalation: sprays, aerosols created during household use or recreation 3. Dermal exposure: skin contact during swimming, fishing

11 11 HABs and Health Symptoms include: diarrhea, nausea or vomiting; skin, eye or throat irritation; and allergic reactions or breathing difficulties If exposed to blooms/scums: stop using the water, rinse off yourself, children, and animals with clean water seek immediate medical assistance for symptoms consistent with exposure report any symptoms to local/state Health Department Health department

12 3. Other Harms 12

13 13 Other Harms Dissolved oxygen depletion: bloom crashes, aerobic respiration by bacteria can deplete oxygen can lead to fish kills unpleasant odors Bloom on Oneida Lake, August 1

14 14 Other Harms HABs can disrupt lake food webs

15 15 Other Harms Economic harm Degraded aesthetics Recreational losses: fishing, bathing, swimming Reduction in tourism Property value impacts Costs of advanced drinking water treatment perceptions matter More Than $2 Million State Investment is Safeguarding Owasco Lake Drinking Water for 46,000 Central New Yorkers

16 16 4. DEC HABs Program Overseen by Dr. Rebecca Gorney

17 17 What is the DEC HABs Program? The program consists of DEC staff who: 1. oversee HAB monitoring and surveillance activities, 2. work to identify bloom status, 3. conduct outreach/education and communicate public health risks, 4. conduct research 5. provide data, insights for the management of NY waters

18 The DEC HABs Program Surveillance/sampling Funded through EPA recurrent grant to DEC (2011- present) Coordinate with professional and volunteer surveillance and sampling programs SUNY ESF and Stony Brook contracted for lab analyses: fluorometry (chlorophyll and blue-green pigments), microscopic ids & toxins Additional sampling and reporting by DEC, DOH & OPRHP Bloom Status Determine bloom status (Suspicious, Confirmed, or Confirmed with High Toxins Blooms) 18

19 Bloom Report and/or Digital Photos Received Yes Is the observer a professional? No (lay person) Is the bloom in a regulated swimming area? No SUSPICIOUS BLOOM Yes Does DEC HABs staff determine descriptions/imagery are credible/likely to be cyanobacteria? Yes Collect a sample for analysis (if possible) BG Chla < 25 µg/l or non-cyano majority BG Chla 25 µg/l &/or cyano majority; MC high toxin threshold; or a regulated swimming area closed Confirmed Bloom & Microcystin 10 (open water)/ 20 µg/l (shoreline) or high risk of other cyanotoxin exposure 19 CONFIRMED BLOOM CONFIRMED WITH HIGH TOXINS BLOOM No NO BLOOM

20 20 Bloom Designation No Bloom A potential bloom report is filed DEC staff determines that the report is not a HAB

21 Non-HABs Examples 21

22 22 Bloom Designation No Bloom Suspicious Confirmed Confirmed with High Toxins A potential bloom report is filed Credible evidence indicates likelihood of both BGA and bloom conditions from visual, field report, other Not (yet) verified by laboratory analysis

23 An easy one... 23

24 Bloom or no bloom? 24

25 25 Bloom Designation No Bloom Suspicious Confirmed Confirmed with High Toxins A potential bloom report is filed HAB confirmed by: 1. BG chlorophyll-a levels > 25 µg/l (interpretation of WHO guidance) 2. Dominance by BGA (fluoroprobe, microscopic analysis) 3. or a regulated swimming area has been closed

26 The Difficulty of Confirmation 26 July 16 July 17

27 27 Bloom Designation No Bloom Suspicious Confirmed Confirmed with High Toxins A potential bloom report is filed 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.

28 28 The DEC HABs Program DEC Harmful Algal Blooms webpage Education & Outreach Website: HABs primer, FAQs, photos, notifications, map, and archived data Conduct presentations & trainings Weekly updates: MakingWaves, Twitter, FaceBook Summary results in DEC & CSLAP reports NEW! Brochure and Program Guide Notifications sent to stakeholders: date, bloom status, photos, raw data, etc.

29 29 5. What Causes HABs?

30 From Paerl and Otten

31 31 Wild Cards Affecting HABs 1. Climate change 2. Trophic interactions selective feeding by dreissenid mussels 3. Emerging contaminants 4. Toxicity triggers 5. Causes of bloom collapse

32 32 6. What to do about HABs?

33 33 Research Leads to Management 1. Education and outreach 2. Research: data collection and analyses occurrence, distribution, timing water chemistry indicators, chl-a, phycocyanins, toxins trophic state interactions trends, case studies and statistical analysis watershed drivers (e.g., land use) with likelihood of blooms Use research and applied science to target management and funding to lakespecific HAB drivers

34 34 Management Targets Temperature, stratification, light availability, trophic interactions are important factors but 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 2013

35 35 Nutrient Management Watershed planning and nutrient management Total Max. Daily Loads (TMDLs), Nineelement plans Nutrient criteria development Stormwater program Nutrient reduction strategies Point source restrictions Non-point best management practices In-water body controls What is causing HABs in low nutrient lakes? Keuka Lake, July 2017; summer average TP ~ 5-10 µg/l

36 36 Summary/Conclusions The DEC HABs program: coordinates surveillance and sampling, assigns bloom status, provides results to stakeholders conducts research to better manage and protect NYS freshwater resources Surveillance networks are invaluable The DEC partners to monitor and educate Bill Hecht

37 37 Summary/Conclusions Data sets include: field observations, algal community information, pigments, and cyanotoxin results Assigning bloom status is a collaborative approach Research objectives include: understanding HABs dynamics, HABs likelihood, and drivers HABs are caused by multiple, interconnected factors nutrients, temperature, wind, biological interactions Management tools are driven by research, applied science nutrient management is key controllable (?)

38 38 Thank You Anthony Prestigiacomo Research Scientist 615 Erie Bvd. West; Syracuse, NY (315) Connect with us: Facebook: Twitter: twitter.com/nysdec Flickr: