
Related items loading ...
Section 1: Project Information
Project Name
FORMBLOOM: Forecasting Tools and Mitigation Options for Diverse Bloom-Affected Lakes
Led by
|
Lead 1
|
Lead 2
|
Lead 3
|
Lead 4
|
Name
|
Helen Baulch
|
Jason Venkiteswaran
|
|
|
Institution
|
University of Saskatchewan
|
Wilfrid Laurier University
|
|
|
Role
|
Project Lead
|
Project Lead
|
|
|
Contact Information
|
Helen.Baulch@usask.ca
|
jvenkiteswaran@wlu.ca 519 884 0710 ext 4968
|
|
|
Classification (e.g., "GWF Pillar 3", "CCRN", etc.)
GWF Pillar 3
Project Websites
Project Description
Solving the problem of blooms requires an understanding of how the physical environment links to geochemistry and bloom ecology, and this understanding must exist on the timescale upon which blooms develop and collapse ? minutes to hours to weeks.
Blooms are one of the most vexing and widespread problems in lakes and reservoirs globally. Nuisance biomass of algae and cyanobacteria can lead to degradation of ecosystem services, loss of property values, and high costs for drinking water treatment. Blooms of cyanobacteria can lead to issues of unpleasant taste and odour and can have direct impacts on the safety of drinking water supplies by producing a variety of toxins which also impose health risks for swimmers and boaters. Cyanobacterial blooms and blooms of other taxa have been increasing across Canada and across the globe. While efforts to control eutrophication have been underway for decades, issues of blooms continue to worsen. This project marries work on risk communication to bloom forecasting, monitoring and mitigation. New technology is being applied to develop forecasting tools.
Project Participants
Helen Baulch | Project Lead | Global Institute for Water Security and School of Environment and Sustainability University of Saskatchewan |
Jason Venkiteswaran | Project Lead | Department of Geography and Environmental Studies Wilfrid Laurier University |
Current Status of this Project