Document N2waZE7x0D6xz4eKzQ3O14GVE

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources Algal Assessment Program Sheila Holman EPA Research Lab September 2017 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 10 ED 002061 Algal Assessment Program Water Sciences Section, Ecosystems Branch Three Phycologists (algal ecologists) 50 years + combined experience Began 1980s Clean Lakes Program, Chowan & Neuse Blooms, Red Tides Macro to microscopic Periphyton to phytoplankton Freshwater to estuarine Primary analyses Assemblage composition (Identification) Densities (cells and units/ml) & biovolumes (how much) Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 10 ED 002061 00270540-00002 Recent Algal Studies Basinwide & Ambient Monitoring Programs Lakes, rivers and estuaries 400-500 samples processed annually Special Studies Nutrient Management Strategies 2004-2007 Jordan & Falls Lakes Jordan Lake (SolarBees) 2014-2015 High Rock Lake Nutrient Criteria Plan Development 2016 Included Cyanotoxin assessments with NCSU Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 10 ED 002061 00270540-00003 Potential Harmful Algal Blooms (pHABs) Algal bloom investigations Regional Offices Estuarine Monitoring Team Episodic (1 to 7 days) 50 in 2016 20 considered pHABs 27 in 2017 (so far) 18 considered pHABs! Chronic (1 to 3 months, returning annually) Fontana Lake > 2015 Chowan River/Albemarle Sound > 2015 2016 Algal Blooms Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 10 ED 002061 00270540-00004 Fontana Lake 2015 -2017 Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 10 ED 002061 00270540-00005 Fontana Lake 2015-2017 Bright green discolored water Blueish white decomposing mess Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 10 ED 002061 00270540-00006 Chowan River/Albemarle Sound 2015-2017 Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 10 ED 002061 00270540-00007 Chowan River/Albemarle Sound 2015-2017 Bright green discolored water Blueish white decomposing mess Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 10 ED 002061 00270540-00008 Current Challenges Cyanotoxin Testing Development Goal: provide in-house analysis Abraxis cyanotoxin test strips (Fall 2016) Rapid assessment Field or office use Limited results (no verification procedures) Abraxis Cyanotoxin Automated Assay System (June 2017) ELIZA instrument Quality assurance testing phase Developing sample collection, handling & processing procedures Future Testing Capabilities: Marine and Shellfish Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 10 ED 002061 00270540-00009 Contact Information North Carolina Division of Water Resources Water Sciences Section Ecosystems Branch Brian Wrenn .......Ex..6...... brian.wrenn@ncdenr.gov Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 10 ED 002061 00270540-00010