NWRRI Fall 2015 Newsletter
NWRRI - Desert Research Institute October 5, 2015 Volume 2, Issue 1
Newsletter written and compiled by Nicole Damon Project Spotlight: Testing the Mortality and Settlement of Quagga Mussel Veliger under Various Chemical Treatments
The quagga mussel (Dreissena natural predators make it a perfect bugensis) is an aquatic invasive habitat for the mussels to grow Inside this issue: species that is spreading throughout and spread. “In recent years, Lake Mead and other waterways quagga mussels have posed a in the western United States. The serious threat to the ecological Project Spotlight 1 mussels overtax the already drought- stability of the Lake Mead stressed lower Colorado River ecosystem,” explains Michael system and Lake Mead reservoir. Zhou, the student researcher for Events Listing 3 The objective of this project is to the project. “Quagga mussels understand how to control and threaten to drive native species to eventually eradicate quagga mussels extinction because of the stress PI Spotlight 4 to help stabilize Nevada’s valuable they put on the aquatic water resources. environment. Their continued presence in Lake Mead might also Quagga mussels can tolerate a wide Student Interview 5 change the lake’s water chemistry range of environmental conditions. and nutrient balance.” They also reproduce quickly and spread rapidly. Lake Mead’s year- For this project, the researchers round warm water temperatures, assessed the mortality of quagga high calcium levels, and lack of mussel veligers, which are the
RFPs
If you have questions about submitting a NWRRI proposal, e-mail Amy Russell ([email protected]). For current RFP information, visit the NWRRI website (www.dri.edu/nwrri).
Lake Mead is a valuable water source for southwestern states, but the quagga mussel infestation could affect its water quality. Pa ge 2 Nevada Water News Volume 2, Issue 1
(Project Spotlight continued) mussels in their larval stage, under various chemical treatment conditions. High school student Alicia Sun assisted Zhou with the experiment and Desert Research Institute research assistants Sachiko Sueki and Yuzhen Feng helped collect field samples. To avoid excessive trihalomethane (THM) formation from chlorination, they tested the effectiveness of potassium permanganate and copper sulfate solutions to kill and prevent the settlement of veligers in intake pipes and treatment plants. “The objective of this project is to find solutions for dealing with this nasty invasive species, especially in the western Quagga mussels colonize on underwater infrastructure, which can damage the United States where quagga mussels intake pipes used by water treatment facilities. have become a growing threat,” Zhou adds. negatively affects food resources for quality of the water as a drinking Quagga mussels affect water fish. The large quantities of water source and creates an resources at multiple levels. They pseudofeces produced by the inhospitable environment for other filter large amounts of water, which mussels also adversely affect the organisms, such as good forms of removes algae and other food lake’s water chemistry. The change phytoplankton. Quagga mussels also sources for zooplankton that in turn in water chemistry threatens the colonize and reproduce on hard surfaces, which can significantly degrade water delivery systems. “Quagga mussels clog intake pipes and attach themselves to underwater infrastructure, which could cause millions of dollars in damages,” says Zhou. Over the past year, the researchers tested various chemical treatments on quagga mussel veligers and have made progress toward better understanding their effects on veliger mortality. “We are still in the process of testing the viability of treating mussels with commonly used disinfection chemicals, which will help us come closer to finding the optimal concentration needed Sample cones that contain veligers and water from Lake Mead. for total veliger mortality,” Zhou Nevada Water News Volume 2, Issue 1 Pa ge 3
(Project Spotlight continued) explains. “So far, we have found that the disinfection chemicals are Over the duration of this project, the researchers effective but only at high will use the results to determine whether concentrations.” commonly used disinfection products can be used Once the laboratory experiments at water treatment plants to prevent the spread of are complete, the researchers will quagga mussels. conduct field-scale tests to assess the viability of these chemical-treatment control strategies to deal with the quagga mussel infestation in Lake treatment plants,” says Zhou. Over the spread of quagga mussels. The Mead. “Our hope is to validate our the duration of this project, the results of this project could also lead findings in the laboratory researchers will use the results to to further research into managing experiments so that we can develop determine whether commonly used quagga mussels across the western real-life control options for quagga disinfection products can be used at United States. mussels in intake pipes and water water treatment plants to prevent
Upcoming Events
NVWRA 2015 Fall Symposium; Reno, NV October 19-20: www.nvwra.org/2015-fall- symposium
Water Rights in Nevada Class; Reno, NV October 21: www.nvwra.org/water-rights-seminar- october
Advanced Water Rights in Nevada Class; Reno, NV October 22: www.nvwra.org/advwater-rights- seminar-october
GSA 2015; Baltimore, MD November 1-4: www.geosociety.org/ meetings/2015 5th International lA luvial Fans Meeting; Christchurch, New Zealand ASA, CSSA, and SSSA 2015 Annual Meeting; November 30-December 4: www.alluvialfans.co.uk Minneapolis, MN November 15-18: www.acsmeetings.org AGU 2015 Fall Meeting; San Francisco, CA December 14-18: fallmeeting.agu.org/2015/ AWRA 2015 Annual Water Resources Conference; Denver, CO November 16-19: www.awra.org/meetings/ 2015 Groundwater Expo; Las Vegas, NV Denver2015 December 15-17: groundwaterexpo.com Nevada Water News Volume 2, Issue 1 Pa ge 4
PI Spotlight: Dr. Kumud Acharya
Dr. Kumud Acharya’s interest in research I’m doing water resources research was for NIWR allows spurred by the increasing demand me to find ways to and diminishing supply of the control or eradicate Earth’s valuable water resources. invasive species and “Being able to develop solutions to help preserve water more sustainably manage water quality for both resources is what I find most human use and for interesting about water resources the other aquatic research,” Acharya says. “In arid species.” and semiarid environments such as In addition to his Nevada, it is even more important other research to find new ways to preserve the projects, Acharya is quality and quantity of these the principal resources both in the environment investigator for the and for human consumption.” NIWR-funded Researching water sustainability project “Testing the also inspired Acharya’s interest in Mortality and how watershed management affects Settlement of aquatic organisms. “Aquatic Quagga Mussel invertebrates face particular Veliger under evolutionary challenges because of Various Chemical anthropogenic effects on their Treatments.” The goal of the affecting water quality,” Acharya environments,” he explains. “The project is to control and says. “What we hope to learn as we potentially continue our research is if the eradicate the chemicals will still eradicate the invasive quagga mussels at concentrations that do mussels in Lake not exceed common-use levels.” Mead. “Once we Although the project focuses on know which quagga mussels in Lake Mead, the disinfection results will help resolve quagga products can mussel infestations in other states eradicate the and countries. “For example,” invasive mussels, Acharya adds, “quagga mussels have water treatment also recently invaded waters in the agencies will United Kingdom and Switzerland.” know how to In addition to researching keep them from environmental changes on aquatic damaging their Quagga mussels compete for food sources with other invertebrates, Acharya is interested systems and species, which greatly affects the aquatic environment. in the effect that climate change has Pa ge 5 Nevada Water News Volume 2, Issue 1
(PI Spotlight continued) on water quality issues and resource management. “There are many ways that these interests are interrelated,” “The research I’m doing for NIWR allows me to find Acharya says, “particularly with ways to control or eradicate invasive species and help respect to the impacts of hydrological conditions on nutrient preserve water quality for both human use and for cycling, aquatic biology, and water the other aquatic species.” – Kumud Acharya management.” When it comes to lab work or field work, Acharya doesn’t have a preference. “We do both lab work obligations or financial if he was stranded on a desert island, and field work depending on the constraints, he would travel Acharya answered, “The books that scales of testing that we are doing,” around the world and explore I have been wanting to read but he says. “The lab is convenient for new countries, meet new people, haven’t had time for yet.” benchtop-scale work, especially try new foods, and learn about during the summer heat.” If new cultures. When asked what Acharya had six months with no he would hope to have with him
Student Interview: Michael Zhou
We asked bachelor’s student Michael Zhou about his current studies and his plans for the future. Here’s what he had to say: What field are you currently studying and what sparked your interest in that field? I am currently working toward a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology with an emphasis on aquatic ecology at Princeton University. I grew up touring the forests and lakes of North America, which allowed me to appreciate nature at its simplest. Because my dad is a hydrologist, I also took trips with my family to Lake Tahoe and Lake Mead, so I guess it was natural for me to become interested in aquatic biology research. Having the chance to study aquatic biology has planet and improve our relationship As an undergraduate student, I allowed me to combine my passions for with our world. wanted a summer internship that would nature and science. What I enjoy most How did you get involved in this incorporate my passion for aquatic about the field is the challenge of trying NIWR project and what research biology. That’s why I applied to work to gain a better understanding of our did you do for the project? on a project that dealt with water Pa ge 6 Nevada Water News Volume 2, Issue 1
(Student Interview continued) management and invasive species. My biology and ecology. I believe research focused on developing that what I have learned alternative treatment options for concerning the growing controlling the spread of quagga mussel problem of quagga mussel populations in Lake Mead and invasions in the western throughout the lower Colorado River United States can help put watershed (“Testing the mortality and things in perspective. It serves settlement of quagga mussel veliger as a reminder that we need under various chemical treatments”). this type of research to help We tested various chemical treatment solve real-world problems. conditions that could be used at water Knowing this keeps me treatment plants to determine their inspired as I work toward my effect on quagga mussel mortality and degree and seek new research settlement. We then measured the avenues in the years to come. relative survivorship rates among What have you enjoyed most veligers in relation to chemical dosage about working on this levels, which gave us an understanding project? of how effective these alternative Taking lake samples for chemical treatments will be as part of veligers around Lake Mead the new containment strategies being during the summer was an launched at water treatment plants for unforgettable experience. It this invasive species. was exciting to connect my What have you learned from working scientific research in the on this project? laboratory with the real Zhou collecting water samples from Lake Mead. Working on this project, I learned system that I was researching. how aquatic biology research can be It was also important to see aquatic I would probably go to Thailand. intricately tied to other research fields, biology in a different light because it The country seems so vibrant but still such as environmental engineering and allowed me to value the impact of the quaint with its famous beaches, lush limnology. Additionally, I learned that research I was doing. jungles, and amazing food. I would it’s always good to be prepared for the What are your goals for the next probably travel through Thailand on unexpected because you can’t expect step in your career? foot to fully enjoy its natural beauty everything to work as planned. It also My goal after graduation is to apply and cultural heritage. seems that veligers, like many aquatic to graduate schools so that I can Cake or Pie? organisms, can be quite sensitive to even continue my research in aquatic the tiniest changes in their environment. biology and ecology. Both! Especially if the choice is tiramisu or pecan pie. How can you apply what you learned If you could go on vacation from this project to your degree? anywhere in the world, where Invasive species management has would you want to go, why would always been a big concern for biologists, you want to go there, and what but especially those involved in aquatic would you want to do there?
“It was exciting to connect my scientific research in the laboratory with the real system that I was researching.” – Michael Zhou NWRRI - Desert Research Institute
Success and the dedication to quality research have established the Division of Hydrologic Sciences (DHS) as the Nevada Water Resources Research Institute (NWRRI) under the Water Resources Research Act of 1984 (as amended). As the NWRRI, the continuing goals of DHS are to develop the water sciences knowledge and expertise that support Nevada’s water needs, encourage our nation to manage water more responsibly, and train students to become productive professionals.
Desert Research Institute, the nonprofit research campus of the Nevada System of Higher Education, strives to be the world leader in environmental sciences through the application of knowledge and technologies to improve people’s lives throughout Nevada and the world.
The work conducted through the NWRRI program is supported by the U.S. Geological Survey under Grant/Cooperative Agreement No. G11AP20092.
www.dri.edu/nwrri
For more information about the NWRRI, contact:
Amy Russell, Business Manager Banner photo: Lake Mead Panorama, U.S. Geological 702-862-5471 Survey/photo Alex Demas [email protected] Page 1: Boulder Basin, Lake Mead; National Park Service Events, page 3: Mojave Desert Tortoise, U.S. Geological Jim Thomas, Director Survey/photo Ken Nussear 775-673-7305 [email protected]