Harmful Algal Bloomsin Wyoming Waters

Michael Thomas26 June 2018

Harmful Algal Blooms in the News

Toledo, OH, August 2014strangesounds.org

St. Lucie River, FL, July 2016nytimes.com

Utah Lake, UT, 2016 and 2017

theguardian.com

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Harmful Algal Blooms

• What is a harmful algal bloom (HAB)?

• Dense concentration of cyanobacteria or blue-green algae

• Appears as surface scums, clumps and/or diffuse in water column

• Elevated risk for production of cyanotoxins and other irritants

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HAB Health Effects

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• Recreation• Not aesthetically pleasing

• Wildlife impacts• Food web alteration

• Fish kills

• Terrestrial animals

• Drinking water• Increased treatment costs

• Can lead to Do Not Drink orders

• Agriculture • Livestock

• Crops

Other HAB Impacts

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Wyoming HAB Action Plan

• How to respond to a reported HAB• Analysis of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins

• Recreational thresholds and advisories

• Public outreach

• Collaborative effort• Wyoming Department of Health

• Wyoming Livestock Board

• Land and water management agencies

• Municipalities

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• Step 1: Observation and Reporting• Algae that look like scums, spilled paint, grass clippings

• Reporting by land and water management agencies, concerned citizens and recreationists

HAB Responsive Action

WyoSpills.org

307-777-7501

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DEQ Report a Spill hotline:

HABs in Wyoming

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HABs in Wyoming

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• Avoid areas with dense algae

• Rinse off with clean water

• Call your doctor or veterinarian if you or your pet feel sick

What to do if you see a HAB

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HAB Responsive Action

• Step 2: Optional Preliminary Screening• Jar and stick tests

• Cyanotoxin test strips

abraxiskits.com

11Cyanobacteria

Filamentous algae(not cyanobacteria)

HAB Responsive Action

• Step 3: Sample Collection and Analysis• Cyanobacteria identification and enumeration

• Cyanotoxin analysis

Mtu.edu

Marine.Rutgers.edu abraxiskits.com

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Cyanobacteria ID&E Automated ELISA

• Based on World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines

• 20,000 cells/mL cyanobacteria• Skin irritation via contact

• Accounts for all other toxicity

• 10 µg/L microcystin• Most naturally abundant toxin

• Most available toxicity data

HAB Thresholds for Recreation

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HAB Responsive Action

• Step 4: Monitoring (if Advisory issued by Dept. Health)• Management agencies track bloom conditions

• Advisory lifted when bloom dissipates or concentrations fall below threshold values

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1) Observation and Reporting• Citizen report of potential HAB

• WDEQ notified US Forest Service

2) Optional preliminary screening• Jar and stick tests were indicative

of cyanobacteria

• Test strips negative for microcystin

Flaming Gorge, August 2017

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Wikipedia.org

3) Sample collection and analysis• Cyanobacteria present, but at low

densities (1,300 cells/mL)

• No Advisory issued by WDH

4) Monitoring• DEQ requested to be notified by

USFS if conditions worsened

Flaming Gorge (continued)

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1) Observation and Reporting• Citizen report of potential HAB

• WDEQ notified WY Game and Fish and irrigation district

2) Optional preliminary screening• Test strip: 2.5-5.0 µg/L microcystin

• WDEQ notified drinking water intake

Woodruff Narrows, August 2017

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Woodruff Narrows (continued)

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3) Sample collection and analysis• 4.5 µg/L total microcystin

• 306,219 cells/mL cyanobacteria

• WDH issued Recreational Advisory

• WDEQ notified Local County Coordinator (LCC) and US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

Woodruff Narrows (continued)

4) Monitoring• WGFD to notify WDEQ when the

bloom subsides

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1) Observation and Reporting• WDEQ staff observed bloom in NE

portion of reservoir

• WDEQ notified Boysen State Park

Boysen Reservoir, August 2017

2) Preliminary screening• Test strip: ≥10 µg/L microcystin

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3) Sample collection and analysis• 111.1 µg/L total microcystin

• 56M cells/mL cyanobacteria

• WDH issued Recreational Advisory

• DEQ notified LCC, WGFD and USFWS

Boysen Reservoir (continued)

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Boysen Reservoir (continued)

Brannon Boat Ramp Swim Beach Shoreline

TamaraskCampground

Tough CreekCampground

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Boysen Reservoir (continued)

4) Monitoring• Boysen State Park

monitored drinking water intake

• Bloom dissipated in October and field tests came back negative

• WDH lifted Recreational Advisory

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Routine Monitoring 2013-2017

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Satellite Imagery

geospatialworld.net

• Satellite sensors can detect cyanobacteria due to unique spectral signature

• Processed images display as pixels, each representing a cell density

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Satellite Imagery (continued)

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• 39 resolvable reservoirs in Wyoming

• Processed images are available in 1-2 weeks

HAB Resources

• WDEQ Harmful Algal Bloom webpage: WyoHABs.org

• General information

• Photo gallery

• Video

• Reporting

• Action Plan

• Strategy

• Procedures

• Investigations

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Contact Information

Mike Thomas

Surface Water Quality Standards

Watershed Protection Program

WDEQ/WQD

(307) 777-2073

Michael.Thomas@wyo.gov

Lindsay Patterson

Surface Water Quality Standards

Watershed Protection Program

WDEQ/WQD

(307) 777-7079

Lindsay.Patterson@wyo.gov

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Questions?

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What causes HABs?

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