Reported Blooms in Ontario Lakes 1994-2016

Reported Blooms in Ontario Lakes 1994 - 2016 Claire Holeton, Michelle Palmer, Kaoru Utsumi Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Branch Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change

May 12th, 2017 Muskoka Stewardship Conference, Port Carling ON

Outline 1.

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Why are blooms a concern?

Types of algae that bloom in Ontario What is the ministry doing about blooms?

Bloom trends in Ontario

A familiar sight?

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A familiar sight?

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Algal groups that commonly form blooms Green algae •

(chlorophytes)

Diverse, include filamentous and colonial forms

Spirogyra

Shoreline ‘fouling’ by mats of filamentous green algae “fresh”

decayed

Photo credit: Kawartha Lake Stewards Association

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Algal groups that commonly form blooms Golden-brown algae

Synura

Chrysophaerella

Dinobryon

(chrysopytes) • •

generally in low nutrient lakes can cause taste & odour problems photo: Baker et al. 2012

Uroglena 6

Algal groups that commonly form blooms Examples

Blue-green algae • • • • •

cyanobacteria a type of photosynthetic bacteria called algae due to their ecology have inhabited the earth for > 2 billion yrs live in a wide range of environments

Aphanizomenon

Microcystis

Anabaena

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Oscillatoria

Gloeotrichia

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Why are blooms a concern?

Aesthetic issues • blooms can produce unpleasant tastes & odours • decomposing algae can cause shoreline fouling • blooms may impact recreational activities & property values Drinking water & industrial water use issues • blooms can impact maintenance or treatment for water taking • taste & odour can affect public perception of drinking water safety • small systems with modest treatment facilities may not be able to effectively treat water during blooms Human health issues • algal toxins from blue-green algae can impact humans • toxins can also impact our pets, livestock, waterfowl & other animals

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Blue-green algal toxins Many species can produce toxins that can be released to the surrounding water when the algal cell is damaged or dies.

Toxins produced by blue-green algae can be classified as: • hepatotoxins – affect the liver • neurotoxins – affect the nervous system • irritant toxins When ingested, toxins can induce symptoms such as fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea & vomiting.

External contact with toxins during recreational activities, such as swimming, boating or water skiing, may result in itchy, irritated eyes & skin.

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photo: USGS

What is the MOECC doing about blooms?

Ontario’s 12-Point Plan includes: Education and Outreach •

info on ontario.ca and fact sheets

Nutrient Reduction •

legislation (e.g., Nutrient Management Act, Ontario Water Resources Act) & numerous programs have been implemented to reduce nutrient loading to Ontario waterbodies

Research & Monitoring •

MOECC partners with government, universities, NGOs, & other stakeholders on numerous efforts to understand algae & the factors that promote algal blooms

Blue-Green Algae Incidence Response • •

provincial response to reports of algal blooms tracks the occurrence & prevalence of algal bloom reports throughout the province

Ontario’s algal bloom response As a result of concern of health risks to humans and animals, algal blooms are a priority issue

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The Ministry has a comprehensive protocol for responding to reports of blooms that involves communication and collaboration among the various stakeholders

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MOECC role is to gather, assess and provide basic scientific & technical information with which the Health Unit can assess risks to humans

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Health Unit makes decisions as to whether notification of the public is required, and what actions should be taken

Which one is a potentially harmful algal bloom?

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Algal bloom identification service

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What trends do the algal bloom reports indicate?

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1)

Is the frequency of bloom reports in Ontario lakes increasing?

2)

Is the frequency of cyanobacterial bloom reports in particular increasing?

3)

Is the timing of bloom reports changing?

4)

Where are the reported blooms from?

Reports indicate an increasing trend Winter et al. 2011, Lake and Reservoir Management (with updated data)

1994 - 2016 P < 0.001: •total

# blooms •# cyano blooms

• •

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The frequency of bloom reports in Ontario inland lakes is increasing The frequency of confirmed cyanobacteria blooms in particular is increasing

Are there other factors contributing to the increase in reports?

Increased public awareness of algal issues

â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘

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outreach & education efforts by government, conservation authorities & cottage associations increased media reports of algal blooms

What trends do the algal bloom reports indicate?

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1)

Is the frequency of bloom reports in Ontario lakes increasing?

YES

2)

Is the frequency of cyanobacterial bloom reports in particular increasing?

3)

Is the timing of bloom reports changing?

4)

Where are the reported blooms from?

YES

What trends do the algal bloom reports indicate?

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1)

Is the frequency of bloom reports in Ontario lakes increasing?

YES

2)

Is the frequency of cyanobacterial bloom reports in particular increasing?

3)

Is the timing of bloom reports changing?

4)

Where are the reported blooms from?

YES

Apparent longer bloom season â&#x20AC;˘

Blooms are being reported significantly later into the fall (below) and earlier in the year (not shown) now compared to the 1990s

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Climatic changes can enhance conditions that support blooms Last bloom report of the year

Day of the year

November

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Nov 27, 2016

What trends do the algal bloom reports indicate?

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1)

Is the frequency of bloom reports in Ontario lakes increasing?

YES

2)

Is the frequency of cyanobacterial bloom reports in particular increasing?

YES

3)

Is the timing of bloom reports changing?

YES

4)

Where are the reported blooms from?

Locations of blue-green algal (BGA) blooms 2010-2016 Location of BGA bloom reports

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We are here

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blooms are reported throughout Ontario some lakes have recurring blooms, but many reports are from lakes with no previous reports

Locations of blue-green algal (BGA) blooms 2010-2016 Location of BGA bloom reports and major highways

• •

• •

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blooms are reported throughout Ontario some lakes have recurring blooms, but many reports are from lakes with no previous reports reports cluster in populated areas adjacent to lakes enhanced human activity & development near lakes may be promoting algal growth

Help us track and respond to suspected blue-green algal blooms If you see me call SAC: 416-325-3000 1-800-268-6060

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Summary • Algal bloom reports have increased in Ontario and the bloom reporting season has become longer

• Blooms were reported from all regions in the Province with increases in reports from lakes in the North and eastern Ontario region in particular

• MOECC is working to better understand the factors that

promote algal blooms & the actions needed to reduce the occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms

• Collaborative research & monitoring projects play an essential role in protecting Ontario’s water resources

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Thanks to:    

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Michelle Palmer Kaoru Utsumi Daniel Joyce Jennifer Winter

If you see me call SAC: 416-325-3000 1-800-268-6060