AWWA Plankton & Algae Course at AWRI

After a year of planning by a committee of experts from academia, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, and water treatment plants, AWRI hosted a three-day Plankton-Algae course sponsored by the Michigan Section of the American Water Works Association on August 1-3, 2017.  Participants in the course were staff from water treatment plants from throughout Michigan.  The course focused on finding solutions to drinking water problems caused by algae such as taste and odor issues, clogged filters in water treatment, and harmful algal blooms.  These new challenges necessitate an increased awareness, knowledge, and understanding by water professionals in dealing with problems caused by algae.  The three-day course provided the tools necessary for algal identification, forecasting, treatment and prevention.

The first day was devoted to identification of algae followed by collection of algae from Lake Michigan and Muskegon Lake using the W.G. Jackson on the next day.  There were presentations about AWRI research, online monitoring technology, and genetic analysis.  Dr. Rick Rediske was the lead instructor on Days 1 and 2 with assistance from Dr. Bopi Biddanda, his students, and Dr. Charlyn Partridge.  Dr. Janet Vail coordinated the course and its materials. Day 3 was devoted to algal bloom case studies with presentations by the Ohio EPA, a water utility director, and consultants.  According to Dr. Alan Steinman, director of the Annis Water Resources Institute, “this type of workshop is perfectly aligned with our mission and that of Grand Valley.  We are sharing our expertise in water quality to assist the practitioners responsible for providing clean drinking water to the citizens of Michigan. It simply does not get much more rewarding than that”.  

Bopi Biddanda and Anthony Weinke attended a 1-day YSI Instrumentation Workshop in Ann Arbor on August 22.

Bopi Biddanda served on the Minnesota Sea Grant Panel on August 31.

Kaitlyn Emelander, graduate student working with Carl Ruetz, successfully passed her qualifying exam on August 9.

Carl Ruetz and Al Steinman hosted Lake Superior State University’s (LSSU) President Peter Mitchell on August 24 at AWRI.  LSSU is building a facility similar to AWRI and they are investigating building design ideas.

AWRI staff are bolded, undergraduate students are denoted with a single asterisk*, graduate students are denoted with two asterisks**, and post-doc researchers are donated with three asterisks ***.

Publications

Bopi Biddanda is a co-author of an article in press at Journal of Great Lakes Research:
Cotner, J., A. Weinke**, and B. Biddanda.  In Press.  Great Lakes:  Science can keep them great.  Journal of Great Lakes Research.

Al Steinman has 4 new articles in press with the journals Environmental Pollution, Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, Chemosphere, and Harmful Algae. All include former postdoctoral fellow Liqiang Xie as a co-author and three include current visiting Ph.D. student Xiaomei Su as a co-author.
Cao, Q., A.D. Steinman, X. Su., and L. Xie. 2017. Effects of microcystins contamination on soil enzyme activities and microbial community in two typical lakeside soils. Environmental Pollution 231: 134-142.
Cao, Q., A.D. Steinman, L. Yao, and L. Xie. 2017. Increment of root membrane permeability caused by microcystins result in more elements uptake in rice (Oryza sativa). Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 145: 431-435.
Su, X., A.D. Steinman, Q. Xue, Y. Zhao, L. Xie, and X. Tang. 2017. Temporal patterns of phyto- and bacterioplankton and their relationships with environmental factors in Lake Taihu, China. Chemosphere 184: 299-308.
Su, X., Xie, L., A.D. Steinman, Q. Xue, X. Tang, and Y. Zhao. In Press. Response of bacterial communities to cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms in Lake Taihu, China. Harmful Algae.

Presentations

(Presenter listed first)

AWRI was represented at the Ecological Society of America (ESA) held in Portland, Oregon from August 6 – 11.  Greg Chorak, Hailee Pavisich, Charlyn Partridge, and Emma Rice were in attendance.  AWRI presentations included:
Chorak, G.M.**, C.R. Ruetz III, R.A. Thum, C.G. Partridge, D.J. Janetski, and D. Clapp.  Oral.  Habitat heterogeneity shapes population genetic structure of yellow perch (Perca flavescens) in eastern Lake Michigan.
Pavisich, H.B.**, S.R. Parks**, and C.G. Partridge.  Poster.  Population genetic diversity of invasive baby’s breath (Gypsophila paniculata) in a northwest Michigan dune system.
Rice, E.** and J. McNair.  Poster.  Phenology of seed maturation in invasive baby’s breath (Gypsophila paniculata) and its importance for restoring coastal sand dune communities in Michigan.

Bopi Biddanda and Rick Rediske co-taught a Plankton Algae Workshop for the American Water Works Association (AWWA) from August 1 – 3 at the Lake Michigan Center.  Janet Vail coordinated this event.  Charlyn Partridge and graduate student Katie Knapp were guest presenters at the workshop.
Biddanda, B. and K. Knapp**.  A working system of in situ environmental sensors monitor changes in weather and water quality. 

Al Steinman gave a presentation on restoration of west Michigan systems for the Hope Association of Senior Professionals (HASP) in Holland on August 3.

There were no new awards or recognition for this issue.  Check again next month!

There were no new grants or contracts for this issue.  Check again next month!

AWRI In the News

“Spring Lake being studied to help prevent algae blooms”
MLive.com, July 27, 2017
Al Steinman was interviewed regarding work AWRI has done and will be doing in Spring Lake.

“Inland lakes with cyanobacteria should pay more attention to nitrogen levels
Michigan Radio, WUOM-FM, July 27, 2017
Al Steinman is interviewed regarding cyanobacteria and its prevention.

“Spring Lake algae blooms under study”
Muskegon Chronicle, July 30, 2017
Al Steinman was interviewed regarding algae in Spring Lake, and methods to prevent it.

“Algae prevention is goal of Spring Lake study”
Grand Rapids Press, July 30, 2017
Al Steinman was interviewed regarding algae in Spring Lake, and methods to prevent it.

“Larry Hines to be honored with Governor’s Lifetime Humanitarian Award”
MLive.com, August 3, 2017
AWRI is listed as one of the many organizations and campaigns Mr. Hines has contributed to.

“Feds release Asian Carp report”
WCBE.org, August 8, 2017
Al Steinman is quoted regarding techniques to preventing Asian Carp from getting into Lake Michigan.
Also carried by MyInforms.com

“Town hall focuses on water quality”
White Lake Beacon, August 21, 2017
A town hall style meeting was held at AWRI on August 21 with State Representative Terry Sabo hosting.

“Michigan teen’s apparel business supports Great Lakes restoration”
MLive.com, August 23, 2017
The article mentions that Jackson Riegler volunteered at AWRI due to his love of the lakes.

“Scotchgard chemical ails fish where tannery scraps litter river”
MLive.com, August 23, 2017
Rick Rediske is quoted regarding tannery scraps in the Rogue River and their potential to affect the environment.

“Tainted leather litters riverbank”
Grand Rapids Press, August 24, 2017
Rick Rediske is quoted regarding tannery scraps in the Rogue River and their potential to affect the environment.

LMC Events

Aug 1
The Muskegon Lake Water Partnership held a public meeting at the Lake Michigan Center.

Aug 1-3
AWRI hosted a 3-day plankton & algae course sponsored by the Michigan section of the American Water Works Association that was held at the Lake Michigan Center.

Aug 10
The Muskegon Area Sustainability Coalition held a Leadership Committee meeting at the Lake Michigan Center.

Aug 15 & 22
The West Michigan Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative Teacher Group held planning sessions in the Annis Educational Foundation Classroom.

Aug 21
Michigan State Representative Terry Sabo held a Water Quality Town Hall meeting that was held at the Lake Michigan Center.  This meeting was open to the public.

Aug 23
The Muskegon River Watershed Assembly held a Water Summit Planning session at the Lake Michigan Center.

Aug 31
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) held a donor reception at the Lake Michigan Center.