HABs monitoring and surveillance efforts in New York State (2012-2018)

Session: Harmful Algal Blooms: From Ecosystem Drivers to Ecosystem Impacts (1)

Rebecca Gorney, NYS DEC, [email protected]
Scott Kishbaugh, NYS DEC, [email protected]
Gregory Boyer, SUNY-ESF, [email protected]
Christopher Gobler, Stony Brook University, [email protected]

Abstract

New York State (NYS) is rich in water resources with over 15,000 lakes >0.1 hectare, eight lakes >100 km², 644 km of Great Lakes coastline and over 140,000 km of rivers and streams. In response to an increase in observations of cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms (HABs), NYS DEC established a HAB monitoring and notification program in 2012. HABs in NYS occur in hundreds of waterbodies over a wide range of water quality characteristics, with most (>75%) experiencing annual recurrences. This presentation examines the establishment and effectiveness of DEC HAB thresholds to document blooms. The NYS non-toxic-centric approach is unique in the sheer size and extent of annual statewide monitoring efforts. The eight-year dataset, largely collected by citizen scientists, includes open water and shoreline samples (>13,000) and visual surveillance reports (>4,000). The results indicate that when DEC Confirmed Bloom criteria (25 µg/L fluoroprobe blue green chlorophyll and dominance of cyanobacteria confirmed by microscopy) were not met, there was a low rate of detection (<1%) of microcystin concentrations over thresholds attributed to recreational risk (4 µg /L). The findings suggest the use of rapid analysis tools, such as the fluoroprobe, are adequately protective to characterize HABs for the purposes of public notification.

Twitter handle of presenter
guble