Harmful Algal Blooms Investigations at the Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center
Harmful algal blooms at scale
HABs can impact large portions of rivers and lakes
Monitoring is key
USGS Scientists are monitoring harmful algal blooms across Virginia’s lakes and streams
Algae Up Close
Cyanobacteria and algae can create harmful toxins
Excessive accumulations of algae that impair waterbodies, called harmful algal blooms (HABs), can have detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems, reduce the quality of water resources, and can pose significant risks to human and animal health. The Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center works with state, regional, and local partners to evaluate the drivers and distribution of harmful algal blooms across Virginia.
Capabilities
HABs investigative studies at the USGS Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center include research to identify and understand the factors and processes leading to HAB initiation, persistence, and decline; Identifying primary sources of the factors contributing to the formation of HABs; and Identifying technologies or approaches to help predict or provide early detection of a HAB event.
To learn more about the full HABs capabilities of the USGS Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center or to learn how to partner with us please contact dc_va@usgs.gov
Virginia HABs Investigations
Lake Anna
Shenandoah River
Background
What are HABs?
Eukaryotic algae and cyanobacteria, commonly referred to collectively as algae, are vital components of aquatic ecosystems. Algae are photosynthetic, produce oxygen, and are the base of the aquatic food chain and can be within the water column or on the stream bottom. However, the excessive growth and accumulation of algae into “blooms” can potentially have detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems, reduce the quality of water resources, and can pose significant human and animal health risks.
Although consensus has not been reached for a universal definition of a HAB, HABs are often defined as excessive algal growth that are harmful due to the frequency and magnitude of the bloom or the toxins that they can produce. This can look like thick scum and accumulation in the water column or on the streambed and can be bright green, blue-green, red, or a golden color in the water. HABs can also produce earthy, musty, septic, or “rotten egg” odors.
There are a variety of impacts from HABs, such as the degradation of water quality, accumulation of scums, algal production of toxins that are potent enough to poison both aquatic and terrestrial organisms, and algal production of taste-and-odor compounds that cause unpalatable drinking water and fish[1]. However, not all algal blooms are harmful, and not all harmful blooms are toxic.
In recent years, the frequency and magnitude of HABs has increased in the United States and Worldwide[2]. HABs are caused by a complex set of physical, chemical, biological, hydrological, and meteorological conditions. Many unanswered questions remain about occurrence, environmental triggers for toxicity, and the ability to predict the timing, duration, and toxicity of HABs[1].
Human Exposure to HABs
Exposure to algal toxins may occur through ingestion of contaminated water, fish, or shellfish; skin contact through recreational activities; or inhalation of aerosolized toxins. Algal toxins are known to cause illness immediately (hours to days) after exposure. In addition, several algal toxins are believed to be carcinogens or to promote tumor growth, although more research on the effects of long-term exposure is needed[3]. The formation and persistence of HABs has caused recreational areas to close due to public health advisories.
Freshwater algal toxins were first included on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency drinking-water contaminate list in 2009[2]. In the U.S., many recreational areas across the state have placed swimming advisories due to the presence of HABs in the waters, leading to losses of income for boating companies, rental units, and water-related tourism. Toxins from HABs is related to human and animal death in at least 43 states in the United States[4].
HABs in the Environment
The formation of algal blooms indicates an ecosystem imbalance caused by human-activities or changes in environmental conditions[5][6]. Human-activities that impact HABs formation in the environment from stormwater, agriculture, wastewater, fossil fuels, and pet wastes[6]. The causes of HABs includes a change in nutrients (such as nitrogen or phosphorous), light, temperature, water chemistry, climate, weather, and hydrology.
The presence of HABs may change the food web, reduce the dissolved oxygen concentrations in the water, and produce toxins that can be poisonous to both aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Long-term effects and persistent HABs on ecosystem structure and function are not well understood.
How Does USGS Measure HABs in the Environment?
The many factors for the occurrence of HABs create a unique challenge in studying the formation, persistence and decline of HABs. The USGS monitors climate, light, hydrology, nutrients, wave action, temperature, water chemistry, geochemistry, and other factors and their interactions to understand their effects on HABs. Water samples are collected to quantify the water chemistry and the types of algae.
USGS HABs Strategic Vision
The USGS has a history of agency-wide interdisciplinary HABs research. In the Northeast Region a Harmful Algal Blooms Capability Team has been formed to better understand:
- Causal factors leading to the development, duration, and decline of HABs;
- Vulnerabilities to HABs by analyzing baseline conditions and trends with respect to HAB occurrence; and
- Measure and report the public health, ecological and economic impacts of HAB events.
References:
- Graham, J.L., Dubrovsky, N.M., and Eberts, S.M., 2017, Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms and U.S. Geological Survey science capabilities (ver 1.1, December 2017): U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2016–1174, 12 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20161174.
- U.S. Enivronmental Protection Agency, 2022, Cyanotoxins and the Safe Drinking Water Act: Drinking Water Protection Act, Contaminant Candidate List and the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, accessed May 25, 2023, at https://www.epa.gov/cyanohabs/cyanotoxins-and-safe-drinking-water-act-drinking-water-protection-act-contaminant.
- Graham, J.L., 2006, Harmful algal blooms: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2006-3147, 2 p.
- Graham, J.L., Loftin, K.A., and Kamman, Neil, 2009, Monitoring recreational freshwaters: LakeLine, v. 29, Summer 2009, p. 18–24. [Also available at https://ks.water.usgs. gov/static_pages/studies/water_quality/cyanobacteria/ LLsummer-graham2.pdf.]
- Watson, S.B., Whitton, B.A., Higgins, S.N., Paerl, H.W., Brooks, B.W., and Wehr, J.D., 2015, Chapter 20 – Harmful Algal Blooms in Wehr, J.D., Sheath, R.G., and Kociolek, J.P., eds., Freshwater Algae of North America (second edition): Academic Press, p. 873-920, doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-385876-4.00020-7.
- Glibert, P.M. and Burkholder, J.M., 2018, Chapter 1 - Causes of Harmful Algal Blooms in Shumway, S.E., Burkholder, J.M., and Morton, S.L., eds., Harmful Algal Blooms: A Compendium Desk Reference: John Wiley and Sons Ltd, p. 1-38, doi: 10.1002/9781118994672.ch1.
Excessive accumulations of algae that impair waterbodies, called harmful algal blooms (HABs), can have detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems, reduce the quality of water resources, and can pose significant risks to human and animal health. The Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center works with state, regional, and local partners to evaluate the drivers and distribution of harmful algal blooms across Virginia.
Capabilities
HABs investigative studies at the USGS Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center include research to identify and understand the factors and processes leading to HAB initiation, persistence, and decline; Identifying primary sources of the factors contributing to the formation of HABs; and Identifying technologies or approaches to help predict or provide early detection of a HAB event.
To learn more about the full HABs capabilities of the USGS Virginia and West Virginia Water Science Center or to learn how to partner with us please contact dc_va@usgs.gov
Virginia HABs Investigations
Lake Anna
Shenandoah River
Background
What are HABs?
Eukaryotic algae and cyanobacteria, commonly referred to collectively as algae, are vital components of aquatic ecosystems. Algae are photosynthetic, produce oxygen, and are the base of the aquatic food chain and can be within the water column or on the stream bottom. However, the excessive growth and accumulation of algae into “blooms” can potentially have detrimental effects on aquatic ecosystems, reduce the quality of water resources, and can pose significant human and animal health risks.
Although consensus has not been reached for a universal definition of a HAB, HABs are often defined as excessive algal growth that are harmful due to the frequency and magnitude of the bloom or the toxins that they can produce. This can look like thick scum and accumulation in the water column or on the streambed and can be bright green, blue-green, red, or a golden color in the water. HABs can also produce earthy, musty, septic, or “rotten egg” odors.
There are a variety of impacts from HABs, such as the degradation of water quality, accumulation of scums, algal production of toxins that are potent enough to poison both aquatic and terrestrial organisms, and algal production of taste-and-odor compounds that cause unpalatable drinking water and fish[1]. However, not all algal blooms are harmful, and not all harmful blooms are toxic.
In recent years, the frequency and magnitude of HABs has increased in the United States and Worldwide[2]. HABs are caused by a complex set of physical, chemical, biological, hydrological, and meteorological conditions. Many unanswered questions remain about occurrence, environmental triggers for toxicity, and the ability to predict the timing, duration, and toxicity of HABs[1].
Human Exposure to HABs
Exposure to algal toxins may occur through ingestion of contaminated water, fish, or shellfish; skin contact through recreational activities; or inhalation of aerosolized toxins. Algal toxins are known to cause illness immediately (hours to days) after exposure. In addition, several algal toxins are believed to be carcinogens or to promote tumor growth, although more research on the effects of long-term exposure is needed[3]. The formation and persistence of HABs has caused recreational areas to close due to public health advisories.
Freshwater algal toxins were first included on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency drinking-water contaminate list in 2009[2]. In the U.S., many recreational areas across the state have placed swimming advisories due to the presence of HABs in the waters, leading to losses of income for boating companies, rental units, and water-related tourism. Toxins from HABs is related to human and animal death in at least 43 states in the United States[4].
HABs in the Environment
The formation of algal blooms indicates an ecosystem imbalance caused by human-activities or changes in environmental conditions[5][6]. Human-activities that impact HABs formation in the environment from stormwater, agriculture, wastewater, fossil fuels, and pet wastes[6]. The causes of HABs includes a change in nutrients (such as nitrogen or phosphorous), light, temperature, water chemistry, climate, weather, and hydrology.
The presence of HABs may change the food web, reduce the dissolved oxygen concentrations in the water, and produce toxins that can be poisonous to both aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Long-term effects and persistent HABs on ecosystem structure and function are not well understood.
How Does USGS Measure HABs in the Environment?
The many factors for the occurrence of HABs create a unique challenge in studying the formation, persistence and decline of HABs. The USGS monitors climate, light, hydrology, nutrients, wave action, temperature, water chemistry, geochemistry, and other factors and their interactions to understand their effects on HABs. Water samples are collected to quantify the water chemistry and the types of algae.
USGS HABs Strategic Vision
The USGS has a history of agency-wide interdisciplinary HABs research. In the Northeast Region a Harmful Algal Blooms Capability Team has been formed to better understand:
- Causal factors leading to the development, duration, and decline of HABs;
- Vulnerabilities to HABs by analyzing baseline conditions and trends with respect to HAB occurrence; and
- Measure and report the public health, ecological and economic impacts of HAB events.
References:
- Graham, J.L., Dubrovsky, N.M., and Eberts, S.M., 2017, Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms and U.S. Geological Survey science capabilities (ver 1.1, December 2017): U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2016–1174, 12 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20161174.
- U.S. Enivronmental Protection Agency, 2022, Cyanotoxins and the Safe Drinking Water Act: Drinking Water Protection Act, Contaminant Candidate List and the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, accessed May 25, 2023, at https://www.epa.gov/cyanohabs/cyanotoxins-and-safe-drinking-water-act-drinking-water-protection-act-contaminant.
- Graham, J.L., 2006, Harmful algal blooms: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2006-3147, 2 p.
- Graham, J.L., Loftin, K.A., and Kamman, Neil, 2009, Monitoring recreational freshwaters: LakeLine, v. 29, Summer 2009, p. 18–24. [Also available at https://ks.water.usgs. gov/static_pages/studies/water_quality/cyanobacteria/ LLsummer-graham2.pdf.]
- Watson, S.B., Whitton, B.A., Higgins, S.N., Paerl, H.W., Brooks, B.W., and Wehr, J.D., 2015, Chapter 20 – Harmful Algal Blooms in Wehr, J.D., Sheath, R.G., and Kociolek, J.P., eds., Freshwater Algae of North America (second edition): Academic Press, p. 873-920, doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-385876-4.00020-7.
- Glibert, P.M. and Burkholder, J.M., 2018, Chapter 1 - Causes of Harmful Algal Blooms in Shumway, S.E., Burkholder, J.M., and Morton, S.L., eds., Harmful Algal Blooms: A Compendium Desk Reference: John Wiley and Sons Ltd, p. 1-38, doi: 10.1002/9781118994672.ch1.