SAC presentation - Wiltsie - Algal bloom dashboard

NC DWR Algal Bloom Dashboard
Dan Wiltsie, Algal Bloom Response Coordinator North Carolina Division of Water Resources
January 26, 2024
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•Toxins produced by cyanobacteria
•Different health effects
•Liver, nervous system, skin, cell functions
•Can affect aquatic organisms and humans
•Currently DWR only tests for microcystin
•Most common and well-studied cyanotoxin
•One genera can produce multiple toxins
•Presence of toxic species DOES NOT equate to presence of toxins
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Cyanotoxins
NC DWR Bloom Response
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Resident/staff
report
Sample
collection
Sample
shipment Sample analysis Data
interpretation
Dashboard
updates
Follow up?
NC DWR Algal Bloom Dashboard
•Reporting comes from phone calls and emails to regional office or Central Lab, or via Dashboard
•Developed to allow citizens to easily report and track events across the state
•First location where updates are posted
•Two components
•Reporting form (Survey123)
•Dashboard (ArcGIS)
•Find links for both at algae.nc.gov
•Total reports on dashboard: 668 (456 algal blooms)
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Blooms in Northeastern NC
•Episodic blooms have been occurring regularly since ~2015
•2019 Chowan bloom recorded highest value for microcystin in the area (620 µg/L)
•90 algal bloom reports on Dashboard since 2020
•Most Dashboard reports have occurred in Chowan River, but several reported in Little, Pasquotank, and Perquimans Rivers
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Blooms in Northeastern NC
•Most blooms occurred during the summer and were dominated by cyanobacteria
•DEQ special study with monthly monitoring at specific sites from May – September
•Monitoring at (at least) one site occurs monthly all year
•Collaboration is essential!
•Citizen groups (Chowan Edenton Environmental Group, Green Saves Green); academic researchers; federal, state, and local agencies; public; etc.
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Dashboard Reports: Chowan River Blooms
•2020 – only 2 reports
•Three positive microcystin hits in Albemarle Sound, max concentration = 0.74 µg/L
•2021 – At least 14 reports on the river
•More in smaller creeks and ponds in the area
•Samples in July contained 350 µg/L microcystin
•EPA recommended human health recreational ambient water quality criterion for microcystin = 8 µg/L
•Press release issued
•2022 – only 5 reports; microcystin detected only in one routine sample at 0.48 µg/L
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2023 Chowan River Bloom
•At least 23 reports on the river
•Majority related to extensive bloom in July that stretched from Tyner to Edenton
•Dominated by potential microcystin producers, but microcystin only detected at 1.1 µg/L
•Northern reports indicated presence of milky blue-white scums on surface (decaying algae)
•Press release issued
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Thank you!
Questions?
Contact information:
Dan Wiltsie
[e-mail]
919-743-8434
algae.nc.gov