Welcome to your Friday Water Quality Update!
Routine monitoring began this week as part of the Volunteer Shoreline Harmful Algae Bloom Program. For the next 9 weeks, 70 CLWA volunteers will be submitting “bloom” and “no bloom” reports throughout the week, and in some cases collecting samples for analysis at the Finger Lakes Institute. The data collected, along with professional watershed staff surveys performed by the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Council, is providing us with a good overall assessment of lake conditions.
Water Quality Update : Current Conditions
Three suspicious blooms were reported this week by trained volunteers - two on Thursday (8/5) and one this morning (Friday, 8/6). Volunteers observed areas of suspended algae in the water column and very light surface streaking. In an effort to provide the most up to date information available, a sample was collected this morning from a suspicious bloom in Crystal Beach and brought to the Finger Lakes Institute in Geneva for analysis. Results indicated that the CyanoChlorophyll (measurement of cyanobacteria, or blue green algae) did not exceed the DEC bloom threshold, meaning this was not a bloom.
While this is good news, we may be setting up for heavier concentrations of cyanobacteria when the conditions are just right - mainly on calm, dry, sunny days. Overall, water quality conditions have been looking pretty good this week, with secchi disk readings bouncing back into the mid 6 meter range, indicating better clarity.
A general assessment of this summer's conditions thus far.
The mid July storm (3+ inches of rain in some areas over a 36 hour time period), generated substantial runoff from the watershed land area into the lake. This can add nutrients to the lake that can increase the potential for algae blooms. There are also internal ecosystem dynamics in the lake that favor cyanobacteria (blue green algae) which may form harmful algal blooms at high concentrations. Factors at play include the changes in our lake ecosystem brought on by invasive quagga and zebra mussels, and increasing lake temperatures.
Conditions can change quickly in August, so please continue to use your visual indicators to look for signs of active bloom conditions. As recommended by the DEC, if you see it, avoid it.
Volunteers and watershed staff will be continuing daily observations throughout August and September and we will communicate any significant changes in bloom activity through our weekly email updates, on our websites, and on our the Association's facebook page. To report suspicious blooms, use HABS@canandaigualakeassoc.org. This email address is monitored by CLWA and Canandaigua Lake Watershed Council staff.
Enjoy your weekend!
Welcome to your Friday Water Quality Update. This week, we are happy to report there were no blooms observed by volunteers or watershed staff.
Since last week's edition, we have experienced some intense rain events across the Finger Lakes. These rain events have flushed an abundance of duckweed and watermeal from the West River and other tributaries, which can easily be mistaken for a harmful algae bloom (HAB). See photos below.
Duckweed and watermeal (Lemna spp. and Wolfia spp., respectively) are tiny floating aquatic plants that are among the smallest flowering plants on earth. They are native to our local ecosystem, and can proliferate rapidly. Often, the two species will be found together on the water’s surface, and may clump together or form into long “streaks”. These streaks can sometimes be observed in large swaths running down the length of the lake. Prevailing winds may also push duckweed and watermeal into coves or along shorelines and can easily be mistaken for a HAB, especially when observed from a distance.
Duckweed and watermeal do not produce toxins and are not harmful to human or pet health. However, during HABs season, we may sometimes see these aquatic plants mixed in with a harmful algae bloom. In that case, they should be avoided. If you have a question on a suspected bloom, please feel free to send in a photograph to HABs@canandaigualakeassoc.org. This email address is monitored by CLWA and our Watershed Program Manager, Kevin Olvany, at the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Council. We may be able to assist with identification though a clear photograph.
As we know, conditions can change rapidly, and there is potential for increased cyanobacteria concentrations when the conditions are right. Please use your visual indicators to look for signs of active blooms. As recommended by the DEC, if you see it, avoid it. Volunteers and watershed staff will be continuing daily observations throughout July, August and September and we will communicate any significant changes in bloom activity through our weekly email updates, on our websites, and on the Association's facebook page. To report suspicious blooms, use HABS@canandaigualakeassoc.org. Enjoy your weekend!
Welcome to your Friday Water Quality Update. This week, we are happy to share there were no blooms reported by volunteers or watershed staff.
We have been observing a steady decrease in the weekly average water clarity throughout the month of July, as reported by Secchi Disk volunteers. This summer’s rain events, combined with the natural progression of the phytoplankton community in the lake, mean that clarity has decreased as we have seen an increase in suspended / dissolved materials and a natural increase in algal production. Volunteers provide weekly readings from 17 locations around the lake, giving us a good assessment of overall lake clarity. Individual readings submitted so far this week seem to indicate that clarity is improving, getting back up into the 6 meter depth from 4-5 meters in recent weeks.
We thank our wonderful volunteers for providing these readings, as clarity is an important assessment tool which may indicate an upcoming bloom event.
As shared in last week’s update, we may continue to see duckweed and watermeal at locations around the lake, as rain events flush these tiny aquatic plants from the West River and other tributaries. Duckweed and watermeal can easily be mistaken for a harmful algae bloom (HAB). See last week’s update for further information and photos.
As we head into August, we welcome the official start date of the Volunteer Shoreline Harmful Algae Bloom Monitoring Program on Monday, August 2nd. Starting next week, HABs volunteers will be providing weekly reports on the algal activity in their designated shoreline zone. This summer, we are thrilled to have the assistance of 71 volunteers! Each volunteer has been trained to identify blooms and report their findings using an online portal developed by our friends at Seneca Lake Pure Waters that will make real-time HABs information available to the public on the CLWA website. This information will also keep you aware of the water’s conditions via our Friday email updates.
Please continue to use your visual indicators to look for signs of active bloom conditions. As recommended by the DEC, if you see it, avoid it.
Volunteers and watershed staff will be continuing daily observations throughout August and September and we will communicate any significant changes in bloom activity through our weekly email updates, on our website, and on the Association's facebook page. To report suspicious blooms, use HABS@canandaigualakeassoc.org. This email address is monitored by CLWA and Canandaigua Lake Watershed Council staff.
Enjoy your weekend!
