HABs Harrier Training 2019 Nathaniel Launer Outreach Coordinator - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Cayuga Lake HABs Harrier Training 2019 Nathaniel Launer Outreach Coordinator Cayuga Lake HABs Monitoring Program Coordinator Community Science Institute

The Cayuga Lake HABs Monitoring Program First of all… THANK YOU ▪ July 8 th will be the official start date ▪ A weekly survey of your zone should be conducted every week from July 8 th to September 30 th . ▪ If there is a week you are unable to conduct a survey that is FINE. Please just send me an email or call CSI to let me know ahead of time.

Results from the 2018 Monitoring Season First of all… Frequency of Cyanobacteria Blooms (HABs) on Cayuga Lake 2018 10 Not Tested for microcystin 9 Identified by the Community Science Institute Number of Cyanobacteria Blooms per day 8 Blooms with microcystin levels less than drinking 7 water limit of 0.3 ug/ L 6 5 Blooms with microcystin levels 4 greater than 0.3 ug/ L and less than recreation 3 limit of 4 ug/ L 2 1 Blooms with microcystin 0 levels ranging from 4 7/2/2018 7/12/2018 7/22/2018 8/1/2018 8/11/2018 8/21/2018 8/31/2018 9/10/2018 ug/ L to 2,533 ug/ L Cayuga Lake 2018 HABs Monitoring Season

30% First of all… Of Cayuga Lake Shoreline Monitored Weekly in 2018 Northwestern Quadrant Northeastern Quadrant Sheldrake Point Southwestern Quadrant Southeastern Quadrant

How to Monitor For Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) - 2019 ▪ At least once per week from July 8 th to September 30 th you will survey your lakeshore zone. ▪ After you complete your survey, submit a “No Bloom” report electronically if you do not observe a suspicious bloom during your survey. ▪ If you observe a suspicious bloom in your zone, either during your weekly survey or at a different time, report the bloom to: “Report a HAB” at OR habshotline@gmail.com www.communityscience.org ▪ Collect a sample of the suspicious bloom, fill out the “Shoreline Survey Form/ Chain of Custody entirely, and transport the sample on ice to the CSI lab for analysis.

NO BLOOM REPORT ▪ The “No Bloom” Report should be filled out every week that you survey your zone but do not observe a bloom. ▪ The “No Bloom” Report should only be submitted electronically. ▪ The link needed to access the “No Bloom” Report will be shared with you via email before you begin monitoring in July. The link can also be accessed on CSI’s website. ▪ No Bloom Reports look like this: 400+ No Bloom Reports Submitted in 2018

Reporting a Suspicious Bloom – CSI Website ▪ Take at least two pictures of bloom: ▪ One close up to show bloom composition ▪ One from far away to show bloom extent ▪ Record GPS coordinates, location description, date, and time observed. ▪ Fill out the online “Report a HAB” form on CSI’s website at www.communityscience.org ▪ Mobile friendly

Reporting a Suspicious Bloom - Email ▪ Email pictures of bloom, GPS coordinates, location description, date, and time observed to habshotline@gmail.com as soon as possible. ▪ Format the subject line of the email containing the bloom pictures and form as follows: ▪ SUSPICIOUS CYANOBACTERIA BLOOM PICTURES *zone#* *GPS Coordinates/landmarks* *date* *time* ▪ Example: SUSPICIOUS CYANOBACTERIA BLOOM PICTURES, Zone 3408, 42.6761 -76. 7189, 8/23/18, 1330

Collect a Sample of the Suspicious Bloom ▪ Use the amber glass bottle provided in the sampling kit – don’t leave here today without a sampling kit ! ▪ Wear gloves! ▪ Collect the sample by skimming the surface at the most dense location of the suspicious bloom. - this method provides a “worst - case scenario” ▪ Sample must be refrigerated or stored on ice. The sample must be transported to the CSI lab on ice the same day it is collected and no later than 4:oo PM the day following collection.

CSI SHORELINE SURVEY FORM AND CHAIN OF CUSTODY ▪ The CSI Shoreline Survey Form/Chain of Custody should be filled out every time a bloom sample is collected. ▪ Please be sure to follow directions and complete each field. This is a very important part of data collection and quality assurance.

Directions Observer and Sampler Information Bloom Information Sample Preservation Information Chain of Custody

BLOOM SAMPLE DROP-OFF ▪ CSI address: 283 Langmuir Lab, 95 Brown Rd, Ithaca, NY ▪ CSI hours: Monday – Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM ▪ Bloom sample relay system for northern volunteers can be used as needed. ▪ Weekend and after hours drop-off location

HOTLINE PROCESS – Suspicious Bloom Reports from the Public ▪ On days that are not part of your weekly Northwest survey you may be called on by your Northeast Quadrant Leader to investigate a suspicious bloom reported by a member of the public through the hotline system. ▪ We are still looking for a Southeast Quadrant Leader! ▪ Divide between northern and southern Southeast quadrants is Sheldrake Point and Southwest Elmwood Point.

Public Bloom Report Process Report is submitted to www.communityscience.org or habshotline@gmail.com CSI, CLWN, DCL and all quadrant leaders receive email notification. Depending on the location of the reported bloom, the appropriate quadrant leader will contact the appropriate HABs Harrier via phone and email. Available HABs Harrier will go to the site of reported bloom to investigate and collect a sample. HABs Harrier will transport sample and completed Shoreline Survey Form/Chain of Custody to CSI lab ASAP.

REPORTING RESULTS ▪ Results will be reported on CSI’s website under the tab “Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring” ▪ Weekly reports summarizing recent bloom activity will be sent to all volunteers on Thursday evenings. ▪ The Cayuga Lake Watershed Network will be sending out weekly press releases with recent bloom activity. ▪ Suspicious bloom reports and results of sample analysis from for Cayuga Lake will also be reported on NYSDEC’s NYHABs state-wide reporting system. ▪ The CSI Website HABs Reporting Page includes: ▪ A bloom location map ▪ A table of bloom information including: location information and 27,000 + results Views of the ▪ Bloom pictures HABs Reporting Map ▪ Resources in 2018

GETTING PERMISSION ▪ Please do not walk on shoreline that is not public property or your own private property. ▪ If you are willing, we encourage you to speak to your neighbors to get permission to survey their section of shoreline. ▪ In speaking with your neighbors you will not only secure a sizeable monitoring zone, but you will also play a significant part in informing and educating the community about HABs and the threat they pose to Cayuga Lake.

BASELINE PHOTOS ▪ After you’ve received your zone number, please do an initial survey of your zone and take pictures. These will serve as baseline photos that can be used for comparison during the HABs season. ▪ Email baseline photos to Nathaniel.launer@communityscience.org with the subject line: BASELINE PHOTOS, *Zone #* ▪ Example: BASELINE PHOTOS, Zone 3408 ▪ Please email photos before the start of the season on July 8th

ZONE DESIGNATION AND MATERIALS HANDOUT ▪ We have printed 6 maps focusing in on six portions of Cayuga Lake. Before you leave please visit the table at the back so that we can help you designate your zone. ▪ Soon after the last training we will inform you of your four digit zone number. ▪ Please make sure to collect of Monitoring Information Packet.

THANK YOU The Cayuga Lake Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring Program would not be possible without you! Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. All of the information presented today will be available on our website following the presentation so that you can review it throughout the monitoring season.