8/20/2024
WT Staff
 August 20, 2024 153 pm EDT
CyAN: Cyanobacteria Assessment Network early detection for freshwater HABs
WT HAB Tracker
from the satellite monitoring program of the NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science(NCCOS) and State sources where available
Lake Erie west basin
Algal toxin advisories have been issued for Maumee Bay and South Bass Island State Parks yesterday morning following last week's water test results for total microcystins measured above the US EPA guidelines for recreational water.
According to the program head for the NOAA satellite monitoring program, where a HAB is detected, it is safe to expect there are toxins present. The early detection system alerts state agencies to conduct water sampling and testing, leading to the posting of recreational public health advisories to safeguard people and their pets around the water.
Microcystins is one of the cyanotoxins that impairs the kidneys and liver, also called a hepatotoxin. According to the World Health Organization, exposure to microcystins may not produce symptoms until organ damage is done. Skin rash, nausea and diarrhea are listed as symptoms of the underlying damage these substances cause. Dogs are especially sensitive, absorbing toxins through contact on coat and paws. There is presently no treatment for cyanotoxin poisoning, follow the posted signage, keep people and pets away from any water with bluegreen algae.
The latest satellite image of Lake Erie West basin was captured August 19 at very high wind speed, 21.1 mph. This and the previous image snapped Aug 18 are mostly cloud obscured with glimpses of the cyanobacteria showing between clouds. Patches of the bluegreen bloom visible Aug 19 indicate concentration around 1 million cells per 100 ml around Maumee Bay and North Maumee Bay, around 500 to 600 thousand cells per 100 ml in open water.
See the NCCOS images here.
Georgia
Cyanobacteria Assessment Network (CyAN) is a multi-agency project including the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the US Geological Survey (USGS) and the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) organized under the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). The purpose of CyAN is "to develop an early warning indicator system to detect algal blooms in U.S. freshwater systems. This research supports federal, state, tribal, and local partners in their monitoring efforts to assess water quality to protect aquatic and human health".
CyAN has eyes-in-the-sky on Georgia water bodies including Lake Sinclair, Carters Lake, Blue Ridge Lake, Hartwell Lake, S Strom Thurmond Lake, Lake Tobesofkee, Ocean Pond, Lake Sidney Lanier, Walter F George Reservoir and Lake Blackshear. More to follow here.
New York
The latest image of Lake Champlain was captured yesterday, Aug 19 under heavy cloud conditions. A previous image caught Aug 18 showed a slice of the northeast Baie Missisquoi HAB between clouds, concentration down to 600 thousand cells per 100 ml. The last clear image was acquired August 14, this same bluegreen bloom on that date at concentration 1 to 3 million cells per 100 ml. See our NY HAB report for more details here.
From NYS Department of Environmental Conservation: One hundred and twenty-six active bluegreen files populate the NYS HAB dashboard Tuesday as the number of reports continues to decline statewide. Multiple new blooms have been confirmed in the Finger Lakes region including Cayuga Lake with twelve active HABs, Canandaigua Lake with five blooms, Otisco Lake stays on the impacted water bodies list with a single HAB confirmed. Chautauqua Lake in Allegany River watershed is another bluegreen high flyer with a total of eleven HABs confirmed as of this report. See the impacted water bodies list here, updates are in progress.
Louisiana: The latest upload from the NCCOS August 19 is cloud obscured, the prior clear image captured August 18 at low wind speed 2 mph shows Lac des Allemands and Bayou Fortier hotspots have expanded in area and increased in concentration in both water bodies. The highest concentrations interpreted from the latest picture exceed 4 millon cells per 100 ml. Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas remain clear of HAB activity, or the HAB is too low concentration for detection. Field Lake has taken on a lakewide HAB at extreme concentration, 3 million cells per 100 ml. It would be safe to say this water would also contain cyanotoxins, keep your people and pets away from the water. Check out the latest satellite image from NCCOS here.
|
|
|
