Remote Sensing of Cyanobacteria in Lakes: The CyAN Web App and National Modeling

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CHABs) can produce toxins that impair freshwater ecosystems used for drinking water, recreation, and habitat for aquatic biota. With CHABs increasing in extent and intensity globally, water managers need information about how to prioritize lake monitoring. We present an overview of the Cyanobacterial Assessment Network (CyAN) web application that make remote sensing data on lake CHABs available to the user. In addition, we present an analysis of lake CHABs risk that combines CyAN data with the U.S. EPA National Lakes Assessments completed in 2007 and 2012. We find that the interannual mean bloom magnitude from CyAN is positively correlated with the likelihood of lakes having detectable microcystin levels. Such information can help inform setting priorities for lake water monitoring in regional contexts.

Impact/Purpose

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CHABs) can produce toxins which impair freshwater ecosystems used for drinking water, recreation, and habitat for aquatic biota. With CHABs increasing in extent and intensity globally, water managers need information about how to prioritize lake monitoring. This presentation for the April 28th workshop titled “Protecting Drinking Water Sources from Cyano-HAB Impacts in the Willamette Basin” organized by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality highlights the functionality of web interface for viewing remote sensing data from the Cyanobacteria Assessment Network (CyAN) and the results of national modeling of lake CHABs risk based on CyAN data. These two components of the CyAN project illustrate EPA work that strives to address the needs of water resource managers as it relates to setting monitoring priorities for CHABs. The workshop will be attended by public utilities, local decision-makers, and partners in drinking water resources. Their knowledge about this soon to be available web application and feedback on our national modeling is invaluable to creating a product that helps inform about lake CHABs risk.

Citation

Handler, A., J. Compton, Ryan A Hill, S. Leibowitz, B. Schaeffer, AND M. Galvin. Remote Sensing of Cyanobacteria in Lakes: The CyAN Web App and National Modeling. Protecting Drinking Water Sources from Cyano-HAB Impacts in the Willamette Basin, NA, Oregon, April 28, 2021.