Blue-Green AlgaeJEREMY JENKINSLAKE PROTECTION / WATER RESOURCE MANAGERLIBERTY LAKE SEWER AND WATER DISTRICT

Answer to our problems?

Outline

What is blue-greenalgae

Physical characteristics

Transport

Impacts/Issues

Liberty Lake 2015

Management Issues

Source:http://cfb.unh.edu/phycokey/Choices/Cyanobacteria/cyanoblooms/Cyanobloom_17_600x450_lake-erie-essick_natl_geog.jpg

Zaca lake, CA

Blue Green Algae(aka: Cyanobacteria) Species

Anabena

Aphanizomenon

Microcystis

Planktothrix

Cylindrospermopsis*

Toxins Anatoxin-a

Microcystin-LR

Cylindrospermopsin*

*less common, spreading

Native, Natural, …

Algae found in almost allsurface waters

Makes up a portion ofplanktonic mass in awaterbody

Not generally eaten byothers, like green algae(primary producers)

Some self-regulatebuoyancy

Easily transported bywind and wave action Source: http://asteel33.tripod.com/id1.html

Transport

Buoyancy Light

Phosphorus

Nitrogen

Wind

Waves

Impacts

Reduced lightpenetration

DO depletion

Production of toxins

Aesthetics

Property Values

Drinking water

Animal deaths

Fish deaths

Source: http://toxische-cyanobakterien.de/index.php?rex_img_type=big&rex_img_file=dog_photo.jpg

Climate 2015 Low Snowfall (3 yrs running)

Mild Winter Temps

Ice-off: February 9th

Jump start to growingseason

High Spring/Summer Temps

High evaporative losses

No “recharge” with rain

SNOWFALL Actual (in.)Departure

from Normal(in.)

2015 32.9 -9.8

2014 35.0 -7.7

2013 26.3 -16.4

2012 51.8 9.1

2011 34.7 -8.0

2008(record) 132.6 89.9

20152011 2012 2013 2014

Water Year 2015Quartz Peak SNOTEL Site- 4,700 feetMica Peak (Washington)- 5,200 feet

Liberty Lake, WAAnnual Minimum Lake LevelElevation, 1953-present

2045.51

2046.01

2046.51

2047.01

2047.51

2048.01

2048.51

2049.01

2049.51

1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

MIN*: 2045.96 (1958)

MIN: 2046.32 (2005)

2046.0 (10/30/15)

Current: 2046.58 (9/21/15)

1993, LLSWD assumed lakelevel mgmt. from ECY

Oct. 30, ‘15

Sept. 21, ‘15

Liberty Lake

1970’s (Typical, pre-sewer) 2008 (Last significant b-g bloom)

Liberty Lake ‘15 Bloom

2015

8/18/16

7/29/16

‘15 - Bloom Duration

Full Bloom - July 30, 2015 All Clear - September 2, 2015

Management Issues - 1

Posting Criteria Differs by state

Human Health Concerns Illness

Death

Ecosystem Health Concerns Nutrient release

Organism die-off

Source: WALPA.org

Washington DOHRecreational Guidance

nwtoxicalgae.org

Idaho Blue-Green AlgaeResponse Plan Complaint-based DEQ Investigates Presence/Absence Volumetric cell-count Posting triggered by XX cells/mL

OR

Presence of scum ID of toxins

Management Issues - 2

Public Relations “No, I cannot remove

the gunk from the lake”

Messaging Residents

Local signs

Word of mouth

Recreational users

Access points

Media

Press release

Thank You

Jeremy Jenkinsjjenkins@libertylake.org