Algae bloom monitoring
Freshwater Algal Identification and Toxicity-Testing Service
The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) offers a freshwater
algal identification and toxicity-testing service for Washington state residents and County Health Districts
in Washington State. This
service identifies algae blooms and is not
meant for routine lake phytoplankton assessment. Stringy algae
that can be picked up and handled, is
probably filamentous algae,
which is unsightly and annoying to some lake
users. This
service is intended for
cyanobacteria (blue-green algae)
bloom identification, rather than filamentous green algae.
My lake looks like pea soup. I think there is an algae
problem.
When algae grow to such an extent that they color the water,
they are said to be blooming. If your lake looks like pea soup,
it may be experiencing an algae bloom.
What does an algae bloom look like?
Blooms may turn the water pea soup green, brownish, or even
red. When blue-green blooms start decomposing, they can turn
bright blue or white and are often reported as paint spills.
We have provided a link to a page
that shows photographs of different algae blooms in Washington.
These photographs illustrate what a bloom can look like at
different stages and under different weather conditions.
If your lakes looks like these photographs, it may have an algae
bloom.
How do I have a lake water sample tested for algae?
If you think that your lake has an
algae bloom and you want to have the algae identified, please contact
Tricia Shoblom at the
Washington Department of Ecology at:
Tricia will ask you questions about the bloom and help you
decide what to do. If you have a digital camera, she may ask you to email her a photograph of the bloom.
The algal identification
and toxicity testing service starts April, 2007.
Others may have reported the same bloom.
Because you may not be the only person who lives on your lake
who has reported the bloom, Ecology may already be working
with county health district staff or other lake residents about
the same bloom that you are reporting. If so, Ecology may
already have people collecting samples from that water body. In
some locations, county health district or lakes program staff
have requested that they be notified when a potential algal
bloom is identified. In some situations, county staff may prefer
to collect the samples themselves. If requested, Ecology staff
will keep you informed about the algae identification and
toxicity testing results from your lake.
How to participate in the algal bloom identification program
What happens if I am asked to send in an algae sample?
If Ecology staff asks you to send in an algae sample, they will
provide you with specific directions about how to collect the
sample and how to send or deliver it to the laboratory. It is
very important for you to carefully follow the directions. Once at
the laboratory, specialists will identify the algae species. If
the sample contains an alga known to produce toxins, the
laboratory will run a toxin analysis on the sample. If the
sample contains a known toxin-producing alga, you may be asked
to send in more samples. Be aware that Ecology cannot
reimburse postage or delivery costs.
How do I collect a sample?
Please work through the Washington
Department of Ecology. The laboratory will not accept outside
samples unless they have been pre-approved by Ecology. If you
are approved to collect a sample, Ecology staff will provide you with
specific directions about sample collection, preservation, and
shipping information. The lake or water body must be located in
Washington state to be eligible for this service.
Where do I send the sample?
If asked to collect a sample, Ecology staff will provide you with
mailing or delivery addresses. Be aware that Ecology cannot reimburse
postage or delivery costs.
How do I get the results?
Ecology or county staff will contact you
with information on algae identification and toxicity. Ecology
staff
will also enter this information into Ecology's web-based
algae database. However, it may take a few weeks before Ecology
can upload the most recent information.
Can I see the results from other lakes?
Ecology is developing an on-line algae database. You can enter a lake name and if there is any algae information for
this lake in the database, the information will be displayed. You will also be
able to search for algae by genus or common names to see the locations
in Washington where specific species have been reported.
Because this is a new database, Ecology
entered historical information on algae blooms for some
Washington lakes. As Ecology collects new identification and
toxicity information, staff will update the database. You
should not assume that because there is no information in the
algae database about a lake, that there is no information.
Ecology is not able to enter
all historical information.
