Cayuga Lake A North End Perspective

Transcription

1 Cayuga Lake A North End Perspective NABs, HABs, Hydrilla Lisa B. Cleckner, Director cleckner@hws.edu May 6,

2 Talk Outline Introduction NABs (Nuisance Algal Blooms) benthic algae study HABs (Harmful Algal Blooms) Cyanobacteria and fluoroprobe measurements in Cayuga Lake and related work on other Finger Lakes Hydrilla the north end version in Aurora 2

3 Finger Lakes HWS Halfman

4 Some Guiding Principles Finger Lakes are big lakes Understudied and need many pairs of eyes Build on previous work Avoid duplication when possible Work closely with watershed associations, leverage expertise from other FLs, GLs Nearshore/human health understudied Cyanobacteria, NABs, and HABs Contaminants methyl mercury Bacteria/bathing beaches Invasive species 4

5 Cayuga Lake North End Thanks, Trip Advisor! GB

6 Benthic Algae Project Motivation Benthic algal fouling on beaches Problems? Nuisance: Smell, interfere with recreation, drinking water taste? Health: harbor bacteria, pathogens Economic: property values? Others? 6

7 Motivation Frequent calls to agencies and managers for help Distinguish from HABs Compare with Great Lakes Saginaw Bay, Erie, Huron, Ontario, others GLAA Demonstration project Sediments, nutrients, beach fouling $20K funding level from NY Sea Grant 7

8 Sites and Approach Three sites in Cayuga Lake from Union Springs to Aurora Nearshore (W, E) 2 m depth Middle 5 m depth Sample water every three weeks at 9 sites (April Sept) Nutrients, YSI, secchi Assess biomass of benthic algae over season Diving, quadrats, camera/visual Dry weight, P Work with citizen scientists and Cayuga Lake Watershed Network 8

9 Cayuga Study Sub Watersheds Thanks to Matt Yarrow of the Community Science Institute for this beautiful map and the CLWN. 9

10 West Sites 6/1/16 10

11 Preliminary Data FLI Lab2 11

12 Preliminary Data Still Rolling In 12

13 Bacteria a Concern? a Survey 13

14 HABs in FL ( 12 16) Lake '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 Conesus Hemlock Canadice Honeoye Canandaigua Keuka Seneca Cayuga Owasco Skaneateles Otisco Suspicious Confirmed High Toxin Landsat Image L. Cleckner R. Weakland 14

15 The bbe FluoroProbe Acquired in July 2016 through a New York State Water Resources Institute grant Differentiates algal classes and concentrations Works up to a depth of 300 m Measures algal communities throughout water column 15

16 The FluoroProbe: How It Works moldaenke.de/en/ Chlorophyll a (chl a) is a fluorescent pigment required for photosynthesis Different algae have different pigments that interact with chl a Each algal class has its own fluorescence fingerprint 16

17 Cayuga Lake: HABs Samples tested for toxins above cyanobacteria chl > 25 µg/l based on NYSDEC and SUNY ESF history Confirmed blooms in Cayuga 08/16/16 09/09/16 09/14/16 09/19/16 17

18 Blooms 09/09/16 Lisa s Dock Bill Ebert s Dock 18

19 Bloom 09/14/16 19

20 Bloom 09/19/16 20

21 Seneca Lake HABs 09/19/16 toxicalgae on seneca lake cms

22 HABs and Role of Nitrogen Non nitrogen fixing genera (e.g., Microcystis) blooms are proliferating Many cyanobacteria are extremely competitive for ammonium (NH 4+ ), the N form most easily incorporated into biomass NH + 4 associated with toxin production in cyanobacteria Most monitoring is for NO 3 only 5/09/microcystis and anabaena 03.jpg?w=1024&h=694 22

23 2016 Sampling for Nitrogen Dr. Mark McCarthy Wright State University Dr. Silvia Newell Wright State University 23

24 2017 HABs and N 24

25 Hydrilla verticillata Named after the Hydra, the giant, serpentlike monster with multiple tentacles Acts like the bully of the waterworld can overtake native vegetation due to fast growth Decreases oxygen and eliminates fish mythology creatures/ fisherman.com/conservation politics/fish spawning/ 25

26 Where is Hydrilla in GL Basin? Marinette County, WI (treated with Aquathol and water drawdown) Cuyahoga County, OH (actively managed) Summit County, OH (management information unavailable) Erie County, PA (management information unavailable) Crawford, County, PA (actively managed) NY Five Counties with Hydrilla (Monroe, Erie, Niagara, Tioga, Tompkins, Broome, and downstate) 26

27 Hydrilla in Cayuga County Discovered by Floating Classroom (Again!) Followed up by four pronged survey: UTM Grid Survey (Racine Johnson Aquatics) Point intercept Survey (Finger Lakes Institute/FL PRISM) Outer Perimeter Rake toss Survey (Floating Classroom) Citizen scientists Education and Outreach: working with partners More info fingerlakesinvasives.org Photo credits: Kate Des Jardin 27

28 Survey Results Initial recommendations to treat 27 acres based on positive identification of Hydrilla Three treatment options discussed so far: Benthic Matting $10M Sonar H4C pellets $134K Komeen Crystals $134K for three applications Proximity of water intake 28

29 Next Steps LEAD New York State Hydrilla Task Force (NYSHTF) Cathy McGlynn, NYSDEC ISCU AIS Coordinator Aurora Hydrilla Task Force (AHTF) Hilary R. Mosher, Coordinator, FL PRISM Aurora Hydrilla Management Committee (AHMC) Aurora Hydrilla Outreach Committee (AHOC) Hilary R. Mosher, Coordinator, FL PRISM Hilary Lambert, Cayuga Lake Watershed Network Members Responsibilities NYSDEC ISCU AIS Experts Provides updates from the NYSDEC ISCU regarding treatment, permitting, funding, and state or national efforts Receives timely information from the AHTF, AHMC, and AHOC Functions as the venue for reporting actions and coordinating local and state efforts Lisa Cleckner, Director, Finger Lakes Institute Cayuga County (Michele Wunderlich, Cayuga County Planning, Eileen O Connor, Cayuga County Department of Health, Bruce Natale, Cayuga County Planning, Keith Batman, Chair, Cayuga County Legislator, Steve Lynch, Chair, WQMA Cayuga County) NYS Parks Sue Edinger, Inns of Aurora Bonnie Bennett, Mayor of Aurora Jonathan Gibralter, President, Wells College Kristy LaManche, Coordinator, FLLOWPA NYSDEC (Willow Eyres, NYSDEC ISCU, Cathy McGlynn, NYSDEC ISCU, Finger Lakes HUB) Cayuga Lake Representation (Either Tee Ann Hunter, Cayuga Lake I/O or Hilary Lambert) Grace Bates Receives timely information from the AHMC and AHOC Makes final decisions regarding seasonal management plan with consult from AHMC Makes decisions on local project implementation Communicates with stakeholders, citizens, and participates in outreach efforts Provides official communication to the public regarding the management implementation including all necessary public notices, or those project aspects that have impacts to stakeholders Provides technical support and input to Hydrilla management in the region Lisa Cleckner, Director, Finger Lakes Institute Cayuga County (Michele Wunderlich, Cayuga County Planning, Eileen O Connor, Cayuga County Department of Health Bruce Natale, Cayuga County Planning) Hilary Lambert, Jim Malyj, Seneca County Soil and Water Conservation District NYSDEC (Willow Eyres, NYSDEC ISCU, Cathy McGlynn, NYSDEC ISCU, Finger Lakes HUB) NYS Parks identify representative Racine Johnson Aquatic Ecologist Receives timely information from the AHTF and AHOC Defines and implements management plan for treatment Contacts experts to serve as peer reviewers for BMPs to treat Hydrilla Works with contractors to develop request for bids, proposal requirements, permitting needs, and budget for projects Oversees project survey and monitoring Prepares and provides base information for technical papers, outreach materials, or other information for the website Bill Foster, Cayuga Lake Floating Classroom Tee Ann Hunter, Cayuga Lake I/O Hilary R. Mosher, Coordinator, FL PRISM Michele Wunderlich, Cayuga County Planning Cornell Cooperative Extension Community stakeholders (Bill Ebert, or others) NYS Parks identify representative Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge/MAC Grace Bates? Receives timely information from the AHTF and AHMC Creates and provides outreach materials such as brochures, handouts, presentations, and press releases. Maintains content for the website Organizes Hydrilla ID training workshops and public meetings Provides speakers for community groups that request updates on management project goals and invasions. 29

30 Summer 2017 FLI Owasco Lake fluoroprobe and HABs Cayuga Lake north end Cayuga Lake Hydrilla Seneca Lake HABs, mercury Honeoye Lake HABs, nitrogen, mercury Other Water chestnut US EPA $ Giant hogweed control USDA $ Restoration and terrestrial invasive species USFS $ Watercraft stewards USFWS, NYSDEC $ HWS campus farm value add ag product Office of Sustainability GHG inventory 30

31 Acknowledgments: FLI Staff Plus students and interns! Sarah Meyer Patty Wakefield Picture pending Nadia Harvieux Hilary Mosher Sam Beck Andersen Picture pending Roxanne Razavi Trevor Massey Kate Des Jardin 31

32 Acknowledgments: FLI Affiliated Faculty And, many more, plus staff 32