In Utah, A Study To Predict Toxic Algae
By Peak Johnson
Toxic algae has become a major concern in different parts of the United States. Coastal areas like Florida have had many of the issues, especially with algal blooms affecting drinking water.
However, there has emerged a reason for hope in combating the algae problem. Scientists are studying the waters of Utah Lake and the Great Salt Lake, with the goal of determining how to foresee algae outbreaks before they take place.
This would allow officials to be able to warn locals ahead of time, Christopher Shope, a research hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Utah told the Associated Press, per St. George News.
Shope added that the study is experimental, designed to show that “longer- term” research is worth the investment financially.
The study hopes to focus on the nutrients causing widespread algae. Researchers plan to examine wastewater treatment plants and agriculture operations.
The Huffington Post reported that algae has been growing at an alarming rate, usually from “an influx of nutrients in waterways.”
The highest incidents of algae blooms usually take place in industrialized countries, according to The Huffington Post, such as North America, Europe, and eastern Asia. Usually due to runoff from industries and cities.
The study launched after an algae bloom this summer covered nearly 150-square-miles of Utah Lake, leaving numerous amounts of people sick, according to St. George News.
Known as blue-green algae, the bacteria spread quickly through Utah Lake, the lake reopened after the algae was taken under control.
Ben Holcomb of Utah’s Division of Water Quality said his team is grateful for the U.S. Geological Survey’s assistance.
“It really helps us fill in those gaps across the lake,” said Holcomb, the biological assessment program coordinator.
Holocomb added that he’s not sure of any correct way to remove algae blooms in large bodies of water with protected wildlife, but said that being able to monitor water readings would be beneficial to officials.
“We would be able to get the word out quicker to perhaps keep people off the lake,” Holcomb said. “The amount of data limits our ability to make good, quick decisions.”
To read about preventing algal bloom visit Water Online’s Nutrient Removal Solutions Center.