it comes from the mud! nutrients, internal loading ... lake...-1 . year-1) oglesby & schaffner...

c

Nelson HairstonDepartment of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University

It Comes from the Mud!Nutrients, Internal Loading, Internal Waves,

and Infernal Honeoye HABs

Lindsay Schaffner1 Bruce Gilman2 Allie King1 Terry & Dorothy Gronwall2

Roxanne Razavi3,4 Lisa Cleckner3 Ludi Sanchez Arias5 Marek Stastna6

1Cornell University, 2Finger Lakes Community College, 3Finger Lakes Institute, 4SUNY ESF, 5ENGEES, 6University of Waterloo

Photo: Fred Bertram

Photo: Nelson Hairston

Beautiful Honeoye Lake

Honeoye Lake’s continuing Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) problem

http://nakedkayaker.blogspot.com/2010/09/honeoye-lake-is-green-sometimes.htmlPhoto: T Gronwall

Photo: T Gronwall

Honeoye LakecyanobacteriaBloom

Thursday7 June 2018

Cyanobacterial blooms are “harmful” because they:

Float – blow to shore, die, smell badOR

Sink to bottom – die, decompose, use up dissolved oxygen in bottom water




Contain liver-toxins and neuro-toxinsmay make people, dogs, cattle sick


Contain liver-toxins and neuro-toxinsmay make people, dogs, cattle sick

Also lousy food for the little animals that might eat them:Toxins & lack essential fatty acids (poor nutritionally)Daphnia



Phytoplankton – includes both cyanobacteria and algae:microscopic photosynthetic organisms drifting in the water


Algae are often beautiful !


Cyanobacteria … no so much

nucleoidthylakoidgas vesicles

Cyanobacteria

Gas vesicles make cells float

When they float, cyanobacteria cells, blow with the wind and accumulate at down-wind areas.

This one reason why the come and go along the shore from day to day.

Landsat 8 (satellite) image of Honeoye Lake on September 16, 2015 Anthony Vodacek and Ryan Ford, RIT

gas vesiclesCyanobacteria

Gas vesicles make cells float

–forming scums

no sa

telli

te im

age

here

cyanobacteria

man

yfe

w

Phytoplankton (both cyanobacteria and algae) require Nitrogen and Phosphorus to multiply

NN

N P

PN

N

P

NNP

PP

N

NP

N

Nutrient pollution

N:PFrom: * city wastewater treatment facilities 10:1

* home septic systems 5:1 * agricultural runoff 50:1

P is scarcer, so it tends to be limiting for phytoplankton growth

External Loading –P from outside the lake

N and P

c

Evidence for “External Loading” driving phytoplankton growthin the Finger Lakes:

External phosphorus input rate (µg L-1 year-1)

Oglesby & Schaffner (1978 L&O)

Sum

mer

phy

topl

ankt

on b

iom

ass

(C

hl-a

µg

L-1)

Finger Lakes 1973 & 1974

c

Evidence for “External Loading” driving phytoplankton growthin the Finger Lakes:



Sum

mer

phy

topl

ankt

on b

iom

ass

(C

hl-a

µg

L-1)

Finger Lakes 1973 & 1974Honeoye1973

c



Sum

mer

phy

topl

ankt

on b

iom

ass

(C

hl-a

µg

L-1)

Nitrogen may also be a significant driver of HABs. Here I use Phosphorus, but N may also be important.

Nitrogen dynamics in Honeoye Lake are being studied by: Mark McCarthy & Silvia Newell (Wright State University)

Lisa Cleckner & Roxanne Razavi (FLI & SUNY ESF)

External P Load: Foundation for managing HABs in lakes

External loading

http://www.ilovethefingerlakes.com/lakes/Honeoye.htm

Before 1980

Houses and cottages had septic systems – of varying quality – that leached into the lake

Watershed used to have lots of land in agriculture. Nutrients runoff to lake.

http://www.wemett.net/pics/bott_photos/canadice/mcintee_pics/honeoye_lake_from_6139_canadice_hill_rd.jpg


http://www.wemett.net/pics/bott_photos/canadice/mcintee_pics/honeoye_lake_from_6139_canadice_hill_rd.jpg

c



Sum

mer

phy

topl

ankt

on b

iom

ass

(C

hl-a

µg

L-1)

Restrict nutrient inputs:

1) Point sources (wastewater treatment plants)

2) Household septic systems

3) Agricultural runoff

Evidence for “External P Loading” driving phytoplankton growth: Foundation for managing HABs in lakes

Managing external loading at Honeoye Lake:


http://www.iloveusny.com/2015/08/15/3-lakes-in-4-days/

All houses and cottagestied to sewer system in 1980

Wastewater treatment plant does not discharge to the lake

Watershed now almost entirely forested, only 12% Ag (horse farms)





Watershed now almost entirely forested, only 12% Ag (horse farms)

Not much left to regulate

Managing external loading at Honeoye Lake:

All houses and cottagestied to sewer system in 1980

Wastewater treatment plant does not discharge to the lake



c

But still the lake looks like this in late summer(2016)

Photo: T Gronwall

Legacy phosphorus

… deposited in lake sediments

P

P

P P

PP P P

P

P

P

P P

PP P P

Legacy phosphorus

… in lake sediments

Bruce Gilman (2001)

SRP (bio-available P)0-15

15-30

30-45Dept

h be

low

se

dim

ent s

urfa

ce (c

m)

0 1 2 3 4 mg P/L

Legacy phosphorus

PP P

PP P P

… internal loadingthe P comes back up into lake water

By: 1) decomposition of dead plankton and other organisms on bottom2) chemical reduction of Iron-P compounds 3) excretion by benthic consumers (e.g. zebra mussels)

c


Sum

mer

phy

topl

ankt

on b

iom

ass (

Chl-a

µg

L-1)

Evidence for Internal Loading driving phytoplankton growth:

Finger Lakes

Honeoye1973

c


Sum

mer

phy

topl

ankt

on b

iom

ass (

Chl-a

µg

L-1)


Finger Lakes

Honeoye2016

Honeoye1973

c


Sum

mer

phy

topl

ankt

on b

iom

ass (

Chl-a

µg

L-1)


Honeoye2016

Honeoye1973

External load reducedby > 50%

Phytoplankton biomass increased by 35%

Legacy phosphorus

PP P

PP P P

… internal loading

PP P P

BUT during summer thermal stratification,P is locked in hypolimnion

PP Phypolimnion

epilimnionthermocline

Legacy phosphorus

PP P P

Sunlight mostly in epilimnion

P locked in hypolimnion PP P

Phytoplankton growth restricted because light and nutrients are separated by depth

Legacy phosphorus

PP P P

Unless strong storm mixes water column

P

P P

Phytoplankton blooms because light and nutrients are both available near surface

lake stratifiesIn hot calm weather

lake de-stratifiesin storm

nutrients brought near surface

Honeoye Lake zmax = 9 m: deep enough to stratify: shallow enough to mix.

PP P P

PP P

nutrients released to hypolimnion

HAB

PP P P

P

P P

lake stratifiesIn hot calm weather

lake de-stratifiesin storm

nutrients brought near surface

Phosphorus pumping hypothesis for Honeoye Lake … maintains HAB.Honeoye Lake zmax = 9 m: deep enough to stratify: shallow enough to mix.

PP P P

PP P

nutrients released to hypolimnion

HAB

PP P P

P

P P

Approach:

1) Document seasonal changes in thermal stratification:Measure temperature vs depth throughout summer

2) Explore causes of mixing events by measuring wind speed/direction, precipitation, and other meteorological parameters

3) Measure phosphorus, chlorophyll (and other parameters as a function of depth)

4) Model lake processes with hydrodynamic model to understand how basin shape, weather, and nutrient supply influence bloom dynamics

Field Chemistry / Sample Processing – FLCC Muller Lab

Weekly by depth:Dissolved OxygenSoluble Reactive Phosphorus (SRP)Total Phosphorus (TP)Soluble Iron, Sulfur and TSP

Weekly depth integrated:Chlorophyll-a (phytoplankton biomass)Phytoplankton (qualitative)Zooplankton (qualitative)

precipitation

wind speed

airtemperature

Precipitation and wind

Honeoye Lake

0

20

40

60

80

100

15-May 14-Jun 14-Jul 13-Aug 12-Sep 12-Oct

Prec

ipita

tion

(mm

/day

)

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5


Mea

n W

ind

Spee

d (m

/s)

Precipitation

Wind speed

May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct

weather station

solar radiationrelative humidity

precipitation

wind speed

solar radiationrelative humidity

airtemperature

Precipitation and wind

Honeoye Lake

0

20

40

60

80

100


Prec

ipita

tion

(mm

/day

)

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5


Mea

n W

ind

Spee

d (m

/s)

Precipitation

Wind speed


Terry & Dorothy Gronwall’s dockweather

station

T & D Gronwall

Deep site

South site

Terry & Dorothy GronwallBathymetric Map Data

September 2014

Honeoye Lake

8 – 97 – 8 6 – 7 5 – 64 – 53 – 42 – 31 – 20 - 1

weather station

0m

1m

2m

3m

4m

5m

6m

7m

8m

surfacebuoy

subsurfacebuoy

Cornell

watertemperatureevery meter

of depth

depths (m)

Water temperature by depth

0m

1m

2m

3m

4m

5m

6m

7m

8m

surfacebuoy

subsurfacebuoy

Cornell

watertempsevery meterof depth

Hypothetical pattern of stratification & de-stratification26

24

22

20

18

16

14

Tem

pera

ture

°C


P P P PPP P

Honeoye Lake: deep enough to stratify, shallow enough to mix.

1 m2 m3 m

4 m

5 m6 m7 m8 m

0m

1m

2m

3m

4m

5m

6m

7m

8m

surfacebuoy

subsurfacebuoy

Cornell


26

24

22

20

18

16

14

Tem

pera

ture

°C


P P P PPP P

P P P PP

P P

Hypothetical pattern of stratification & de-stratificationHoneoye Lake: deep enough to stratify, shallow enough to mix.

0m

1m

2m

3m

4m

5m

6m

7m

8m

surfacebuoy

subsurfacebuoy

Cornell


Hypothetical pattern of phosphorus pumping

26

24

22

20

18

16

14

Tem

pera

ture

°C


P

PP

P

P P P PP

P P

0m

1m

2m

3m

4m

5m

6m

7m

8m

surfacebuoy

subsurfacebuoy

Cornell


Hypothetical pattern of phosphorus pumping and HABs

26

24

22

20

18

16

14

Tem

pera

ture

°C


P

PP

PHAB

HABHAB

Harmful “Algal” Blooms (HABs) driven by P and temperature

28

26

24

22

20

18

16

14

12

Tem

pera

ture

°C

2016


26

24

22

20

18

16

14

Tem

pera

ture

°C


DATA!

Concept …

nodata

140

28

26

24

22

20

18

16

14

12

Tem

pera

ture

°C

2016



28

26

24

22

20

18

16

14

12

Tem

pera

ture

°C

nodata

2017

Lake stays stratified in summer

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

TP (µ

g/L

±sd

)0.5M

2M

5M

0

50

100

150

200

250


SRP

(µg/

L ±

sd)

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

TP (µ

g/L

±sd

)



282624222018161412

Tem

pera

ture

°C

250200150100

500

2017Epilimnion

Hypolimnion

P P P PPP P

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

TP (µ

g/L

±sd

)

0.5M2M5M


0

100

200

300

400

1-May 31-May 30-Jun 30-Jul 29-Aug 28-Sep 28-OctMay Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct

400

300

200

100

0

TP (µ

g/L)

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

TP (µ

g/L)

TP in bottom water

TP in surface water

Phytoplankton biomass in surface water (0 – 5 m)50

40

30

20

10

0

Chl-a

(µg

/L)

phytoplanktongroup

Fluoroprobe dataRazavi & Cleckner

CyanobacteriaCryptophytesDiatomsGreens

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80TP

(µg/

L ±

sd)

0.5M2M5M


0

100

200

300

400

1-May 31-May 30-Jun 30-Jul 29-Aug 28-Sep 28-OctMay Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct

400

300

200

100

0

TP (µ

g/L)

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

TP (µ

g/L)

TP in bottom water

TP in surface water

P P P P

TPTP

How did the P get into the epilimnion while the lake was stratified?

South site

Thermocline tilt: upwelling of cool nutrient-rich bottom water

1 m2 m3 m4 m

PP P P

wind

warm

cool

79 °F

68 °F

South site


1 m2 m3 m4 m

PP P P

warm

cool

South site


1 m2 m3 m4 m

PP P P

cool


28

26

24

22

20

18

16

14

12

Tem

pera

ture

°C

6 m thermistor dataTe

mpe

ratu

re °C

26

24

22

20

18

ALSO …Internal waves along the thermocline

Internal waves along the thermocline

hours

24

22

20

18

Tem

pera

ture

°C

0 6 12 18 24

20 °C

24 °C

Tem

pera

ture

°C 123456

7

8

m

26

24

22

20

18

Δ 4°C in 1hTemp at 6m

[7 °F]

PP P

P

SRP


wind

cool

warmTe

mpe

ratu

re °C

26

24

22

20

18

0 3 6 9 12Days

PP P

P

SRP


cool

warmTe

mpe

ratu

re °C

26

24

22

20

18

0 3 6 9 12Days

PP P

P


cool

warmTe

mpe

ratu

re °C

26

24

22

20

18

0 3 6 9 12Days

Simulation by Kraig Winters Scripps Institution of Oceanography

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoROLW5D2X0&feature=youtu.be

Internal waves hit the slope at the end of the lake turbulent mixing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoROLW5D2X0&feature=youtu.be

Multiple upwellings and internal waves bringin cool nutrient-rich bottom water to illuminated surface

1 m2 m3 m4 m

Simulation by Kraig Winters Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Internal waves hit the slope at the end of the lake other mixing

http://loyalkng.com/2010/06/14/the-shorebreak-art-of-clark-little-photography-inside-30ft-40ft-waves-surfs-up/

Clark Little Photography

?

Surface wave sediment uplift

Marek Stastna

t = 52 s

t = 64 s

z (m

)

t = 40 s

bolus formation

Wave steepens and draws up nutrient rich boundary layer water and sediment

t = 52 s

t = 64 s

z (m

)

t = 40 s

Marek Stastna

bolus with billows

With mixing …

Simulation of internal waves bringing up sedimentby Daniel Bourgault, UQAR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbNbxBIrsXY

I didn’t show this slide but the link is to a nice video that shows bolus formation as interal wave climbs slope at end of lake

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbNbxBIrsXY

140

28

26

24

22

20

18

16

14

12

Tem

pera

ture

°C

2016



28

26

24

22

20

18

16

14

12

Tem

pera

ture

°C

2017

nodata

Evidence for exchange between epilimnion and hypolimnion

140

28

26

24

22

20

18

16

14

12

Tem

pera

ture

°C

2016



28

26

24

22

20

18

16

14

12

Tem

pera

ture

°C

2017

nodata

Evidence for exchange between epilimnion and hypolimnion

Implies P exchange from hypolimnion to epilimnion

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

TP (µ

g/L

±sd

)0.5M

2M

5M

0

50

100

150

200

250


SRP

(µg/

L ±

sd)

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

TP (µ

g/L

±sd

)


How much of increase in epilimnion TP can be explained by internal sediment

loading of TP to hypolimnion?


282624222018161412

Tem

pera

ture

°C

250200150100

500

2017Epilimnion

Hypolimnion

period of cyanobacteria

How much of TP increase in epilimnion can be attributed to P release from sediments into hypolimnion?

Calculation:1) Average rate of increase in TP mass in hypolimnion 2) Convert to total TP mass increase3) Compare with TP mass increase in epilimnion

Internal loading (lake-sediment release of P)

2016 – a dry year - Between 68% and 100% of HAB phosphorus

2017 – a wet year - Between 41% and 78% of HAB phosphorusexplained by P release from sediments

PP P P

P

P P

How much of TP increase in epilimnion can be attributed to P release from sediments into hypolimnion?


Thursday7 June 2018

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

16-May 18-May 20-May 22-May 24-May 26-May 28-May 30-May 1-Jun 3-Jun 5-Jun

Win

d Ve

loci

ty (m

/sec

)

Honeoye Wind Speed 201812

10

8

6

4

2

0

mile

s/ho

ur

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

16-May 18-May 20-May 22-May 24-May 26-May 28-May 30-May 1-Jun 3-Jun 5-Jun

Win

d Ve

loci

ty (m

/sec

)

Honeoye Wind Speed 2018Prolonged wind

events12

10

8

6

4

2

0

mile

s/ho

ur

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

26

15-May 20-May 25-May 30-May 4-Jun 9-Jun

Tem

pera

ture

°CHoneoye Lake South 2018

1 m

2 m

3 m

4 m

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

26


Tem

pera

ture


1 m

2 m

3 m

4 m

Major upwelling

event

10

12

14

16

18

20

22

24

26


Tem

pera

ture


1 m

2 m

3 m

4 m


Thursday7 June 2018

Research Associate on project:Allie King – hydrodynamics PhD

Model of water-column mixing and nutrient loading – CE-QUAL-W2 (driven by weather data)

Get model to “do what the lake does” in terms of seasonal nutrient and HAB concentrations

Use model to try out different management options to see what works to control HABs

Typical CE-QUAL-W2 Version 2 model grid

Next steps:

Consultant on project:Sue O’Donnell, UFI CE-QUAL-W2 expert

Management options for internal loading:

1) Apply Alum or Phoslock– particles bind phosphate in water and carries it to

lake bottom

PO4

PO4

PO4 PO4

PO4

PO4

PO4

PO4

PO4

PO4

PO4PO4

Expensive – requires repeated application – current strict gov’t regulation


1) Apply Alum or Phoslock– binds phosphate in water and carries it to lake bottom

2) Bubble bottom water with air to introduce oxygen– causes P to bind to iron and sink to lake bottom

P P P PP

P

oo

ooo

o

ooo

air pump

Also de-stratifies lake with potential to bring P to surface, if iron-binding is ineffective


1) Apply Alum or Phoslock– binds phosphate in water and carries it to lake bottom

2) Bubble bottom water with air to introduce oxygen– causes P to bind to iron and sink to lake bottom

3) Hypolimnetic withdrawal- removes P-rich water from lake: long-term

Where does the P-rich water go?Also de-stratifies lake with potential to bring P to surface,

if iron-binding is ineffective

PP PP

water pump

Honeoye is Special

Honeoye is Special

PP P P

PP PP P P

AND … Thanks! Honeoye Lake internal loading study

Dorothy and Terry Gronwall

Ludi Sanchez Arias

Allie King & Bruce Gillman

Elizabeth Yardley & Roxanne Razavi

Max CassellEmma Dietz & Corinne Klohmann

Honeoye Lake Watershed Task Force

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

Cornell UniversityAtkinson Center for a Sustainable Future

Lindsay Schaffner

Marek Stastna

0

2

4

6

8

10

12


Diss

olve

d O

xyge

n (m

g/L)

Honeoye Lake 2018

Upwelling event mixed deep water up to surface

low DO / high P low DO

P

Honeoye 2018

What about other lakes?How important will internal loading be?

All lakes have both external and internal loading of nutrients.Relative importance will vary.

P

P

P P

PP P P

P

P P


All lakes have both external and internal loading of nutrients.Relative importance will vary.

Depends on amount of past external nutrient loading.

How much of that was retained in the lake sediments vs. being washed out.

Honeoye Lake water retention time in summer is about 1 year, so not much washes out.

P

P

P P

PP P P

P

P P


Summer temperature stratification varies with lake depth.Really shallow lakes will stratify sometimes, but mix top-to-bottom frequently.

PP P High chance for internal loading



Slightly deeper lakes will stay stratified, nutrients can build up to high levels in bottom water.upwelling events may transport nutrients to surface

PP P

P P P P

PP PP P P

High chance for internal loading





PP P

P P P P

PP PP P P



Honeoye




Really deep lakes will stay stratified, nutrients won’t get very high in bottom waterupwelling events won’t have much to transport.

PP P

P P P P

PP PP P P

PP P P

PP

PP PP



Honeoye

Low chance for internal loading

0

2

4

6

8

10

12


Diss

olve

d O

xyge

n (m

g/L)

Honeoye Lake 2018

Upwelling event mixed deep water up to surface

low DO / high P low DO

P

PP

PPP PP

Not only transport up of nutrients, but also living phytoplankton that has sunk to the thermocline or

to the lake sediments

Phytoplankton in high nutrients, low light“luxury nutrient uptake”

Cells are high in P and N relative to C … and ready to divide when given light …

Ludivine Sanchez AriasP

PP

PP PP

Does bolus transport and mixing in shallow water bring up “super-charged” cells ready to bloom?

Cells with ahigh C:P content

grow fastest

PP

PPP PP

Cells in low light, high P transported to high light & nutrients

each point is a lake

Redrawn from Sterner et al. 1997

Phytoplankton cells from low light and high Phave a high P:C content

Redrawn from Goldman et al. 1979

Decomposition on lake bottomuses up oxygen

Diffusion from air keeps oxygen high

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

Honeoye Lake Dissolved Oxygen 2017

Series1 Series2 Series3 Series4 Series5 Series6Series7 Series8 Series9 Series10 Series11 Series12


Diss

olve

d O

xyge

n (m

g/L)

0 m 0.5 m 1 m 2 m 3 m 4 m5 m 6 m 7 m 8 m 8.5 m 9 m

O2

O2

FiHoneoye Lake Dissolved Oxygen 2017

Series1 Series2 Series3 Series4 Series5 Series6Series7 Series8 Series9 Series10 Series11 Series120 m 0.5 m 1 m 2 m 3 m 4 m5 m 6 m 7 m 8 m 8.5 m 9 m


Diss

olve

d O

xyge

n (m

g/L)

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

~ 30 Sept


28

26

24

22

20

18

16

14

12

Tem

pera

ture

°C2017




Tem

pera

ture

°C28

26

24

22

20

18

16

14

12 May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct

Diss

olve

d O

xyge

n (m

g/L)

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

~ 30 Sept

South bottom slope of lake

SRP


wind

cool

warm




Tem

pera

ture

°C28

26

24

22

20

18

16

14

12 May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct

Diss

olve

d O

xyge

n (m

g/L)

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

~ 30 Sept

fish kill

upwelling event

it comes from the mud! nutrients, internal loading ... lake...-1 . year-1) oglesby & schaffner...

Documents