Columbia River at Tri-Cities HABs study Active
Project Overview
Harmful algal blooms (HABs), caused by cyanobacteria, are increasingly a global concern due to their potential to produce toxins harmful to human and animal health. This study aims to develop tools for forecasting toxin concentrations. The study combines continuous water quality monitoring, satellite data analysis, and toxin verification to enhance our understanding and management of algal toxins to model the risk of toxic blooms along the Columbia River, particularly in the Tri-Cities area of Washington.
Background
The Columbia River serves as the primary source of drinking water for the cities of Richland, Kennewick, and Pasco, WA (Tri-Cities). However, the presence of HABs toxins in the river poses significant risks to public health, animal health, and the local economy. Traditional field monitoring methods are costly and reactive, making it challenging to predict and address toxic bloom events effectively.
Objectives
- Create relations between continuous water-quality data and toxin levels, as well as the utilization of past satellite data in predicting toxin levels by using parameters as indicators of algal blooms and how these can be correlated with toxin-producing algal events.
- The statistic model aimed to establish relationships between continuous water-quality data, satellite data, and algal toxin results, by identifying patterns or specific events that may indicate the presence of HABs.
- Develop predictive tools for forecasting toxin concentrations. The multiple data sources, including both continuous water-quality data and satellite imagery, enhances the potential to detect correlations and patterns associated with the conditions conductive to HABs and toxin production.
Relevance and Benefits
This project is relevant to Congressional mandates to the USGS to provide more assistance to local communities regarding HABs affecting their local water supply and risk to recreation. The project is directly in line with the USGS Strategic Vision, “Data Acquisition” to “Modeling, Prediction and Predictability” through “real-time awareness” of “natural hazard risk” (USGS 2021). Building capacity with the WA WSC on these HABs topics is consistent with the National call for increased attention to Harmful Algal Blooms. The benefits of the project are to the local communities, as referenced by their participation in the local working group and their initial, to be expanded, financial support. The 2 primary objectives, using sonde and satellite data, to predict toxin levels is of immediate benefit to the three local municipalities, two counties, and the Washington Department of Health. The more minor objectives (automation via an online tool, utilizing other data sources, expanded toxin characterization) are focused on benefits to local cooperators as well.
Approach
The installation of real-time water quality sondes will provide stakeholders with crucial data concurrent with ongoing algal toxin monitoring efforts. By collecting water samples and correlating toxin concentrations with continuous water quality data, we aim to develop actionable predictive models for early identification of toxic bloom events. Utilizing satellite data, including multispectral images, will guide proactive field monitoring by identifying when and where to collect water samples for testing. Statistical modeling of water quality parameters such as chlorophyll-a and phycocyanin will serve as indicators of cyanotoxin concentrations, enhancing our understanding of HAB dynamics in the Columbia River.
How USGS Will Help
The USGS will play a role by integrating satellite data, algal toxin data, and continuous water-quality data to develop measures for toxin-producing algae growth. By providing this data to local communities and stakeholders, the USGS aims to support proactive management of HABs in the Columbia River.
Stay tuned for updates on our progress!
Project Overview
Harmful algal blooms (HABs), caused by cyanobacteria, are increasingly a global concern due to their potential to produce toxins harmful to human and animal health. This study aims to develop tools for forecasting toxin concentrations. The study combines continuous water quality monitoring, satellite data analysis, and toxin verification to enhance our understanding and management of algal toxins to model the risk of toxic blooms along the Columbia River, particularly in the Tri-Cities area of Washington.
Background
The Columbia River serves as the primary source of drinking water for the cities of Richland, Kennewick, and Pasco, WA (Tri-Cities). However, the presence of HABs toxins in the river poses significant risks to public health, animal health, and the local economy. Traditional field monitoring methods are costly and reactive, making it challenging to predict and address toxic bloom events effectively.
Objectives
- Create relations between continuous water-quality data and toxin levels, as well as the utilization of past satellite data in predicting toxin levels by using parameters as indicators of algal blooms and how these can be correlated with toxin-producing algal events.
- The statistic model aimed to establish relationships between continuous water-quality data, satellite data, and algal toxin results, by identifying patterns or specific events that may indicate the presence of HABs.
- Develop predictive tools for forecasting toxin concentrations. The multiple data sources, including both continuous water-quality data and satellite imagery, enhances the potential to detect correlations and patterns associated with the conditions conductive to HABs and toxin production.
Relevance and Benefits
This project is relevant to Congressional mandates to the USGS to provide more assistance to local communities regarding HABs affecting their local water supply and risk to recreation. The project is directly in line with the USGS Strategic Vision, “Data Acquisition” to “Modeling, Prediction and Predictability” through “real-time awareness” of “natural hazard risk” (USGS 2021). Building capacity with the WA WSC on these HABs topics is consistent with the National call for increased attention to Harmful Algal Blooms. The benefits of the project are to the local communities, as referenced by their participation in the local working group and their initial, to be expanded, financial support. The 2 primary objectives, using sonde and satellite data, to predict toxin levels is of immediate benefit to the three local municipalities, two counties, and the Washington Department of Health. The more minor objectives (automation via an online tool, utilizing other data sources, expanded toxin characterization) are focused on benefits to local cooperators as well.
Approach
The installation of real-time water quality sondes will provide stakeholders with crucial data concurrent with ongoing algal toxin monitoring efforts. By collecting water samples and correlating toxin concentrations with continuous water quality data, we aim to develop actionable predictive models for early identification of toxic bloom events. Utilizing satellite data, including multispectral images, will guide proactive field monitoring by identifying when and where to collect water samples for testing. Statistical modeling of water quality parameters such as chlorophyll-a and phycocyanin will serve as indicators of cyanotoxin concentrations, enhancing our understanding of HAB dynamics in the Columbia River.
How USGS Will Help
The USGS will play a role by integrating satellite data, algal toxin data, and continuous water-quality data to develop measures for toxin-producing algae growth. By providing this data to local communities and stakeholders, the USGS aims to support proactive management of HABs in the Columbia River.
Stay tuned for updates on our progress!