Cyanobacterial Harmful Algal Blooms in Central Park, New York City
Dates
Start Date
2024-01-01
End Date
2026-09-30
Summary
Overview Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) can produce cyanotoxins that pose health risks to humans, pets, and wildlife that use freshwater lakes and ponds. While not often used for swimming or drinking water, human and animal contact with urban lakes can include boating, fishing, or use of shoreline walking paths. CyanoHABs are a persistent, annually recurring problem in several Central Park lakes. It is not known how cyanoHAB conditions (such as cyanotoxin concentration and phytoplankton community composition) vary among lakes within the park or whether the groundwater is impacted by the proximity cyanoHABs in surface waters. Our study will explore the surface water and groundwater in Central Park by collecting samples [...]
Summary
Overview
Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) can produce cyanotoxins that pose health risks to humans, pets, and wildlife that use freshwater lakes and ponds. While not often used for swimming or drinking water, human and animal contact with urban lakes can include boating, fishing, or use of shoreline walking paths. CyanoHABs are a persistent, annually recurring problem in several Central Park lakes. It is not known how cyanoHAB conditions (such as cyanotoxin concentration and phytoplankton community composition) vary among lakes within the park or whether the groundwater is impacted by the proximity cyanoHABs in surface waters. Our study will explore the surface water and groundwater in Central Park by collecting samples in the summers of 2024 and 2025 at six lakes and three groundwater wells. The measured variables will allow us to better understand cyanoHAB dynamics in the lakes and surface and groundwater flow patterns, such as whether cyanotoxins are moving into the groundwater or nutrients are moving into surface water. Samples will be collected approximately monthly, July through September, each year. A full project proposal is in the Attached Files section of this page.
Passive cyanotoxin sampling: SPATT Deployments
While single-event, or discrete, samples provide valuable information about cyanHABs and cyanotoxins, the use of passive Solid Phase Adsorption Toxin Tracking (SPATT) samplers can complement discrete sampling by measuring cyanotoxin concentrations over time. SPATT samplers are typically constructed using nylon mesh, a plastic hoop, and contain resin beads that adsorb the dissolved cyanotoxins present in the water. However, SPATT samplers are subject to biofouling (growth on the samplers), which can impact the accuracy of results. USGS is testing copper mesh and shade as two possible biofouling deterrents in August 2024 in The Lake and Turtle Pond. The SPATT samplers will be anchored in place, floating just at the lakes’ surface for two weeks to accumulate cyanotoxins. They have been thoroughly tested to ensure they pose no harm to animals or environmental conditions. Results from these experiments will help to refine SPATT sampler design and deployment strategies, which will improve data quality and provide better estimates of cyanotoxin concentrations.
Click on title to download individual files attached to this item.
20230920_150417497_iOS.jpg “The Lake in Central Park. Photo credit: A. Doolittle, USGS”
1.27 MB
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SPATT.png “Photo of SPATT samplers made of nylon mesh (left) and copper (right). The nylon”
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USGS_HABs_CentralPark.pdf “Proposal”
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Purpose
The primary goal is to further understand the water quality and cyanoHABs by describing the spatial variability of the phytoplankton communities and cyanotoxins in six Central Park lakes. A secondary goal is to conduct experiments on the design of passive toxin tracking samplers.
Preview Image
The Lake in Central Park. Photo credit: A. Doolittle, USGS