Multiplying the impact of field data through models to identify lakes at-risk for cyanobacteria blooms

Loss of water access due to toxin-producing cyanobacteria is a growing concern for the public and water managers across the United States. There is limited field data on cyanobacteria but predicting which waterbodies will be affected is critical for targeting monitoring and communicating risk to near-lake communities. Our team leverages field data, satellites, and models to estimate the risk of toxicity for thousands, and soon hundreds of thousands, of lakes across the conterminous US. The views expressed in this presentation are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

Impact/Purpose

Harmful cyanobacterial blooms can produce toxins which impair freshwater ecosystems used for drinking water, recreation, and habitat for aquatic biota. With increased awareness and reporting of cyanobacteria blooms, water managers need information about how to prioritize monitoring locations in surface waters that may be affected. This presentation highlights analyses that combine data from the satellite-based Cyanobacteria Assessment Network, the National Lakes Assessments field assessments, and a variety of watershed, climate, and lake characteristic to model the risk of toxic blooms in lakes across the US. This presentation will be part of an Ecological Society of America INSPIRE session intended to spark ideas in managing public resources in the format of 5-minute presentations that are 20 slides with slides automatically advancing ever 15 seconds. This intended audience is early career individuals that may be interested in federal, state, or local agency careers.  

Citation

Handler, A., J. Compton, R. Hill, S. Leibowitz, B. Schaeffer, AND M. Dumelle. Multiplying the impact of field data through models to identify lakes at-risk for cyanobacteria blooms. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Portland, OR, August 07 - 11, 2023.