The DEC s HABs Program

Transcription

1 1 The DEC s HABs Program Anthony Prestigiacomo, Research Scientist Finger Lakes Watershed Hub Division of Water, Bureau of Water Assessment & Management Community Science Institute September 30, 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 Background/ Context

4 4 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

5 5 DEC HABs Program Overseen and coordinated by Dr. R. Gorney

6 6 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

7 7 DEC HABs Program 4. Conduct 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

8 8 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)

9 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 9 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

10 10 Monitoring, Surveillance, and Sampling

11 11 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 toxics-usgs-gov

12 12 Volunteer HABs Surveillance Networks Volunteer procedures mirror professional programs trained by DEC staff wide network of observers that provide valuable surveillance information rapidly communicate bloom reports local contact receives/verifies bloom reports and coordinates sampling Surveillance standardized forms digital photos with geo-location descriptors Sample collection (if bloom is present) consistent procedure wear gloves and avoid exposure to skin shipped to lab for analysis

13 13 toxics-usgs-gov

14 14 Example Volunteer Networks The Owasco Lake Surveillance Network 2016 present overseen by OWLIP (website) 24 monitoring zones, OWLA volunteer survey and monitor shoreline in assigned zones, Mondays, early July through early October > 100 visual reports submitted 6 samples collected in July 2017 (none toxic); > 50 samples since 2016 > 10 samples in September 2017, mostly high BG Chl-a and elevated microcystin

15 15 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 The research laboratory of Dr. Gregory L. Boyer at SUNY ESF

16 16 DEC Bloom Status Designation based on surveillance and sampling data

17 Bloom Report and/or Digital Photos Received Yes Is the observer a professional? No (lay person) Is the bloom in a regulated swimming area? 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; 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 17 CONFIRMED BLOOM CONFIRMED WITH HIGH TOXINS BLOOM No NO BLOOM

18 18 Bloom Designation No Bloom A potential bloom report is filed DEC staff determines that the report is not a HAB

19 Non-HABs Examples 19

20 20 Bloom Designation Bloom Suspicious Confirmed Confirmed with High Toxins A potential bloom report is filed Credible (visual) evidence from indicates: cyanobacteria and bloom conditions Not (yet) verified by laboratory analysis

21 An easy one... 21

22 Bloom or no bloom? 22

23 23 Bloom Designation Bloom Suspicious Confirmed Confirmed with High Toxins A potential bloom report is filed HAB confirmation requires sample collection: 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

24 The Difficulty of Sample Collection 24 July 16 July 17

25 25 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.

26 26 Bloom Reporting/ Outreach

27 27 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

28 28 Example Notification Stakeholder list this example (36 individuals) Lake name, bloom location, bloom size Bloom Designation Analytical results (if available) algal composition, BG Chl-a toxins

29 29 Research and Managing NY Waters

30 30 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!

31 31 Control the Controllables 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 2012

32 32 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 DECs Trees for Tribs Program

33 33 HABS in Low Nutrient Systems Keuka Canandaigua Skaneateles What is causing HABs in low nutrient systems?

34 34 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

35 35 Climate Resiliency Adaptation planning on a local scale Assessing local climate change hazards Identifying local vulnerabilities to climate change Applying management strategies to reduce climate change impacts