Transcript LLU Open House

Algal Control By Phosphate Restriction
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Mason Lake (Irvine) contains toxic
algae. They will install a water
treatment plant to remove
phosphate.
Newport Back Bay is nearby and
may also be contaminated with the
toxic algae.
Eastlake (Yorba Linda) is the control
lake and is not being treated.
Mason Lake
Sampling Site
Toxic Algae in Mason Lake
Visibility: 4cm
High phosphate levels are from many water fowl
Toxin-Producing Microcystis sp.
Mason Lake: One Mile From
Newport Back Bay Estuary
Newport Back Bay
Urban runoff into the bay
Bay
Storm drains with
Phosphate-rich
water from urban
run-off
Phosphate-rich
water dumping
into the Bay
Upper Newport Bay
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Top birding site
Home to 200 species of birds
30,000 migrating birds per day
Audubon Society/F&G conducts a
monthly bird count
Endangered Species at Newport Back Bay:
California Least Tern
LightFooted
Clapper
Rail
Brown
Pelican
Peregrine
Falcon
Belding’s
Savannah
Sparrow
Coastal
California
Gnatcatcher
East Lake (Yorba Linda)
Sampling
Site
East Lake: Yorba Linda, CA
Algae is creating a
foamy surface scum
A Diatom called
Navicula is
causing the
foam
Sample Analysis
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Algal Assay
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Chlorophyll Assay
Flow Cytometry
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Species ID
Cell count
Species populations
Phosphate Assay
Algal
Assay
Eastlake:
Diatoms
Mason Lake:
Cyanobacteria
Flow
Cytometry
is used to
count algal
cells and
separate
them by
species
Flow
Cytometry
is used to
count algal
cells and
separate
them by
species
Chlorophyll
Assay
Filter the
water to
capture the
algae on the
filter paper
Mason Lake
Eastlake
Grind up filter paper
with acetone to
release chlorophyll
After
Centrifuge
Phosphate
Assay
Filter algae out
of water, add a
reagent that
turns blue when
it contacts
phosphate
Filters with algae left on them
Mason Lake
Eastlake
The deeper the
blue color, the
more phosphate
is present.
A dilution series with phosphate standard