LAKES LINGANORE & ANITA LOUISE STUDY UPDATES Hannah Zinnert Gabrielle Troutman LAKE ANITA LOUISE Gabrielle Troutman Why Study Lake Anita Louise?

• Last winter, a bloom of toxic algae, Planktothrix rubescens, turned the lake pink and raised concerns about water health Planktothrix rubescens

• Species of filamentous cyanobacteria that may produce microcystin • Microcystin is a hepatotoxin (a chemical substance that damages the liver) • Exposure to hepatotoxins may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and in some cases, acute liver failure • Humans can be exposed through the mouth and skin while swimming, drinking water, or showering in water that has been contaminated Lake Anita Louise Study Goals

Is Planktothrix rubescens still present in Lake Anita Louise at excessive levels?

• Determine if P. rubescens is persisting in the lake • Determine if current levels of microcystin exceed the safe limit set by the World Health Organization (WHO) • Consider possible solutions to decreasing the presence of P. rubescens Study Recap

• Hood’s robotic boat used to map bathymetry • Located cold, deep point to sample • Conducted bi-weekly sampling visits • Samples tested for: dissolved oxygen, temperature, conductivity, pH, turbidity, dissolved inorganic phosphorous, chlorophyll, and phycocyanin levels

• Samples examined under microscope to identify algal species present • Maryland Department of Environment conducted toxin analyses and reported microcystin levels GIS-Generated Bathymetry Map

• Created using Hood’s robotic boat and GIS software • Generated to determine areas where Planktothrix may be persisting • Sampling location chosen based on deepest point The Stratification of Lakes

Credit: Dr. Drew Ferrier Changes in Temperature (°C) 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Temperature 0

While the surface 5 of the lake and Thermocline 6/10/2016 the oxycline 10 7/6/2016

warmed over the 8/1/2016 Depth (ft) Depth course of the 15 summer, the For reference… bottom of the 20 lake remains a constant 0°C = 32°F 25 temperature of Continuously cold temperatures C indicate that there may be a C F ~8-9° groundwater-fed spring in the 20° = 70°

bottom of the lake http://clipart.coolclips.com/480/vectors/tf05163/CoolClips_vc009608.png http://images.clipartbro.com/254/sun-with-sunglasses-clipart-transparent-panda-free-254001.png Changes in Conductivity (µs/cm) Conductivity 0 200 400 600 800 1000 0 Ions from spring at bottom of the lake are diluted by the • Conductivity has time they reach the surface remained fairly 5 constant at the Mixing between surface and 6/10/2016 surface and bottom 10 bottom water is creating of the lake variance in conductivity 7/6/2016 8/1/2016

throughout the Depth (ft) Depth summer 15 Higher benthic conductivity

• Freshwater systems 20 may be due to incoming can have a groundwater in the bottom conductivity of the lake anywhere between 25 100-2,000 μs/cm Changes in Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L) 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 Dissolved 0 Oxygen

-The oxygen available 4 reduced drastically between June and Oxycline Jul/Aug. 8 Depleted oxygen 6/28/2016 -The depleted oxygen 7/20/2016 zone is indicative of 12 Increased oxygen 8/1/2016

heterotrophic Depth (ft) Depth organisms consuming oxygen, while the 16 increased oxygen may indicate an algal bloom. Algae are Below this point, the water autotrophic and 20 is hypoxic – this is a harsh produce oxygen as a environment for organisms product of that require oxygen photosynthesis. 24

http://www.clipartkid.com/images/6/generic-fish-clip-art-at-clker-com-vector-clip-art-online-royalty-azdyOh-clipart.png Changes 70 Spike in turbidity in in Turbidity beginning of August 60

• Turbidity is a 50 measure of water clarity. The higher 40 the turbidity, the Surface 30 Oxycline less clear the water (NTU) Turbidity Max Depth

appears. 20 • Turbidity is impacted by 10 sediments, algae, and decomposing 0 6/29/2016 7/9/2016 7/19/2016 7/29/2016 8/8/2016 plant matter. Date Changes in Blue-green ratio of 0.7 algae Phycocyanin 0.6 to Chlorophyll 0.5

• A high phy:chl ratio is 0.4 indicative that the algae Surface is composed mainly of 0.3 Oxycline blue-green algaes Max Depth 0.2 Green algae • The photo provided of phycocyanin:Chlorophyll Ratio supports that the oxycline water sample 0.1 from the end of June with a high phy:chl ratio was 0 composed of more blue- 5/30 6/9 6/19 6/29 7/9 7/19 7/29 8/8 green algae than other Date species of algae. Predominant Algae June July August Toxin Analysis Results Microcystin (ppb) WHO Drinking Water 1 Recommended Accidental Ingestion 2 - 4 Limits Moderate Risk 20 January 352 February 160 March >100 Lake Anita Louise April 32 May 34 June (surface) 1.08 June (max depth) 33.6 Concerns for the Future…

• Planktothrix continues to persist in the lake • While surface microcystin levels have dropped to near the WHO limit, levels at the bottom of the lake remain nearly 33x greater than is recommended • Fall turnover will mix the contents of the lake and winter will decrease the temperature, creating a perfect environment for Planktothrix to thrive • Anita Louise feeds into Lake Linganore and could transfer microcystin Possible Remediation Action at Lake Anita Louise

• Reduction of nutrient inputs into the lake • Have your soil tested to find out if fertilizers containing phosphorous are necessary • Create a buffer zone – don’t mow right up to the edge of the Lake and plant shrubs along the edge of properties • Install rain barrels at homes to collect rain water and decrease runoff • Peroxide application during winter when Planktothrix is at the surface of the Lake • Addition of barley straw to the water in the spring to inhibit growth • Draining the lake to allow bottom water to receive full sunshine Any Questions? LAKE LINGANORE Hannah Zinnert Goals

• Is Lake Linganore at risk for harmful algal blooms? If so, what can be done to improve the health of the lake?

• Investigate multiple water quality parameters over the course of the lake’s growing season • Determine predominant algae species found throughout the growing season • Understand the amount of nutrient flux occurring in the lake and how it interacts with other water quality parameters What is a harmful algal bloom (HAB)?

• Occur when colonies of algae grow out of control while producing toxic or harmful effects on people, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, and birds

• Microcystis sp. • A type of freshwater blue-green algae that can form HABs • Can produce hepatotoxins • Liver toxins that can cause nausea, vomiting, and acute liver failure Methods

• Bi-weekly sampling at 5 sites on the lake

• Collected vertical profile data at all 5 sites

• Collected water grab samples at sites 1,2, & 4 Methods

• Collected multiple water quality parameters for each vertical profile site • Including temperature, dissolved oxygen, light intensity, and conductivity

• Analyzed water sample grabs at surface, middle, and max depth • Chlorophyll and phycocyanin fluorescence, active chlorophyll a concentrations, pH, and turbidity Water Quality

Site 1 Temperature Site 4 Temperature • Temperature Temperature (° C) Temperature (° C) 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 • Dissolved 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 0 Oxygen 0 Thermocline 5 5

10 10

15 Thermocline 15

20 Depth Depth (ft)

Depth Depth (ft) 20 25 25 30

30 35

17-May 13-Jun 18-Jul 35 17-May 13-Jun 18-Jul

• Generally, the water warms from surface to bottom throughout the • In the deeper sample site, the increasing temperature trend is the summer same • By mid July, a thermocline is set up and the water column is more • However, a thermocline is set up by June and gets even larger by stratified July Water Quality Site 1 Dissolved Oxygen Site 4 Dissolved Oxygen

• Temperature DO (ppm) DO (ppm) 0 5 10 15 20 25 0 5 10 15 20 25 • Dissolved 0 0

Oxygen 5 5

Supersaturated DO 10 10

15 15

20 20

Depth Depth (ft) Depth (ft)

25 25

30 2 ppm hypoxia 30 cutoff 2 ppm hypoxia cutoff 35 35 1-Jun 18-Jul 3-Aug 1-Jun 18-Jul 3-Aug

• High levels of DO in surface waters • DO decreases as you move deeper in the water column • As summer progresses, the area of the water column containing little to no DO moves higher Nutrients (MDE 2014 Data)

Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN) Dissolved Inorganic Phosphorus (DIP) 3.000 0.0120

2.500 0.0100

2.000 0.0080

1.500 0.0060 DIP (mg DIP(mg P/L) DIN (mg DIN (mg N/L) 0.0040 anoxic zone expands, more 1.000

0.0020 0.500 moves further up the water 0.0000 0.000 20-Apr 10-May 30-May 19-Jun 9-Jul 29-Jul 18-Aug 7-Sep 27-Sep 17-Oct 20-Apr 10-May 30-May 19-Jun 9-Jul 29-Jul 18-Aug 7-Sep 27-Sep 17-Oct Sampling Date Sampling Date DIN Surface DIN Bottom DIP Surface DIP Bottom

• Much higher concentration of Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen (DIN) than Dissolved Inorganic Phosphorus (DIP) • Concentrations of DIN in surface and bottom remain elevated throughout the growing season • Bottom DIP remains elevated (and even increases some), while surface DIP reduces to trace amounts Nutrients (MDE 2014 Data)

• Phosphorus is released from the sediment in the lake during summer months when the lake is stratified and there is little oxygen in the bottom Nutrients (MDE 2014 Data) DIN/DIP Ratio 12-May 2011:1 23-Jun 1802:1 30-Jul 7973:1 26-Aug 3149:1 15-Sep 1717:1 • For optimal algal growth, only needs to be 16:1 • Therefore, growth is Phosphorus-limited Chlorophylls & Phycocyanin

Active Chl a of Surface Grabs at Site 4 Phycocyanin:Chlorophyll Ratio of Surface Grabs at Site 4 40 0.5

0.4 30

0.3

20 Ratio

Concentration (ug/L) 0.2 a

10

0.1 Active Active Chl

0 0 10-May 20-May 30-May 9-Jun 19-Jun 29-Jun 9-Jul 19-Jul 29-Jul 8-Aug 10-May 20-May 30-May 9-Jun 19-Jun 29-Jun 9-Jul 19-Jul 29-Jul 8-Aug Sampling Date Sampling Date

• Concentrations of Chl a in the surface spiked in early • By mid July, the phycocyanin:chlorophyll ratio spikes to a June and remained elevated throughout the summer peak, indicating a large increase of blue-green algae Predominant Algae

Spring Early Summer Mid/Late Summer

Mix of blue-green algae and Mix of diatoms, dinoflagellates, Mostly blue-green algae diatoms and green algae The Big Picture

• Microcystis sp. has only been found in small quantities in the lake this summer • This could be due to the number of storms that have occurred over the summer

• However, the conditions of the lake are indicative of large surface algal growth and are primed for a potential harmful algal bloom

• Not only is the Lake Linganore community in an agriculturally dominated area, but construction has been occurring and new housing construction will begin soon that can potentially bring in more sediment and nutrients What actions can be taken?

• Reduce residential fertilizer usage • Apply low phosphorous fertilizer once a year in the fall if necessary

• Keep vegetation along edges of the lake as a buffer to catch nutrients

• Continue monitoring phycocyanin fluorescence values for potential blooms, especially during dredging

• Remain vigilant regarding the use of silt fences during new construction phase

For more information on how you can manage stormwater on your property, please visit: http://www.mde.state.md.us/programs/Water/StormwaterManagementProgram /Pages/programs/waterprograms/sedimentandstormwater/chesapeake.aspx Thank you to… Eric Roberts Dr. Drew Ferrier Dr. Kevin Sellner Claire Hudson Susan Simonson Randy Smith Dr. George Dimitoglou Peter O’Connor Andrea Kozlosky Brianna Fragata Frederick County DUSWM Abbi Strock Hanne Christensen LLA Volunteers

Lake Linganore E. Coli vs Precipitation - 2016 1000 2.5

MD - Site-specific Daily Max. 459

MD - Generic Daily Max. 235 2

126 MD - Max. Avg. 100

1.5

1

10 Daily Precipitation (inches) Precipitation Daily

0.5 E Coli Concentration 100 / mL) (MPN Concentration Coli E

1 0 5/27/16 6/3/16 6/10/16 6/17/16 6/24/16 7/1/16 7/8/16 7/15/16 7/22/16 7/29/16 8/5/16 Nightingale Precipitation Source: LLA / FoL, Water Quality Average Lake Linganore E. Coli by Year (summer geometric mean) 140 MD Public Beach Standard =

120

100

80

60

40 Mean E. Coli (cells / 100 / ml) (cells Coli E. Mean 20

0 2013 2014 2015 2016 Mean E. Coli (geometric) Source: LLA / FoL, Water Quality Summer Days E. Coli Exceeded MD Generic Daily Maximum by Year 30

MD Public Beach Generic Daily Maximum = 235 cells/ 100 ml 25

20

15

10

5 # Days Exceeded MD Generic Daily Max Daily Generic MD Exceeded Days # 0 2013 2014 2015 2016 Days ExceededMD Max Daily (generic) Source: LLA / FoL, Water Quality