September 2024 Project Update

We have done it. We completed an ambitious sampling plan, and collected over 300 samples over the past 2 years. A big congratulations goes out to the whole team! We now focus on finishing up laboratory work, getting data ready for statistical analyses, and drafting the recommendation report. Peter is still conducting phytoplankton counts at a rapid pace. Although we have stopped sampling for this project, we still have a field crew at the ready to sample any late summer algal blooms with funding from a combination of other programs. In fact, as I (Hannah) type this up, Addi Knoll and Dane Polkinghorne are giving me updates on some green scums developing in the lower harbor.

July 2024 Project Update

Rain, rain, and more rain! We are happy for the opportunity to collect a second year of data. A drought year plus a heavy precipitation year is a great combo for a project hoping to capture nutrient and phytoplankton dynamics!  The picture below, from Jay Cooke State park, is near peak discharge on the St Louis River on June 22nd. We have been able to sample at various river flows since our first sampling event in October 2022 (from 400 to 20,000 cfs to be exact). While the field crew is out sampling every other week, dodging thunderstorms, Peter is diligently identifying and enumerating phytoplankton samples in the lab. Check out the data tidbit below for a blue-green algae highlight. 

May 2024 Project Update

The project team made the best of sampling this winter even though we had very few days with safe ice. We pivoted our sampling design to sample more frequently at Barker's Island (pictured below) and Billing's Park because they could be safely accessed all winter. We now have the opportunity to reallocated some sample sets that went uncollected this winter to some additional open water samples this Spring and Summer. We are already experiencing a very different weather condition in 2024 then we did in 2023. We think this additional year of data will really add to the robustness of our findings and recommendations for monitoring in the future. 

December 2023 Project Update

The project team completed it's 25th sampling event on November 8th, 2023! The boats were then put away and sample collection paused. For now, while we wait for ice to thicken on the estuary, we begin the big task of compiling and analyzing data. Peter is diving into preliminary data analysis and will present at the St. Louis River Summit in March. But don't forget, we still have a winter season left to collect data. Our dissolved oxygen sensors are all deployed safely (🤞) under the ice.  We hope to get out on the ice and sample at least twice this winter. 

September and October were a whirlwind of algal bloom activity in the lower harbor.  At Barker's Island we saw conditions grow more productive throughout September until conditions fostered a confirmed toxic algal bloom on September 21st. Two more extensive bloom events occurred in the lower harbor, the largest, on October 3rd, extended out onto Lake Superior. These blooms were largely dominated by Aphanizomenon flos-aquae. 

While it is disheartening to see these extensive blooms in the harbor, we are grateful for the timing of this grant funding which allowed us to be there capturing frequent and comprehensive data. We are optimistic about what we will be able to learn from this year's blooms and how we can apply that knowledge to future monitoring. 

August 2023 Project Update

The project team has been out sampling every week since late June.  So far we have 15 sampling events under our belt! On July 11 & 12 we collaborated with Nancy Schuldt and Arianna Northbird to sample 8 estuary sites in the same way and timeframe as Fond du Lac's 5 upper St. Louis River sites. We did a bit of a crew swapping to learn more about one another's methods and water quality research. 

What about harmful algal blooms? We have had a little bit of action with some small, isolated patches of blue-green algae (or cyanobacteria) in the estuary. On July 12th, Kait Keinl of the Lake Superior Reserve, collected a sample from Barker's Island Swimming Beach that had benthic mats of Oscillatoria and Phormidium. Over the course of the next few days, the benthic mats became dislodged and were floating in/around our sampling site at Barker's Island. Additionally, visible colonies of Aphanizomenon were present at Barker's Island and Mud Lake after a series of sunny, calm days in August. In addition to our routine sample collection, we have collected some limited samples for toxin analysis, and will be prepared to take more if bloom-like conditions occur.

May 2023 Project Update

Since the last winter sampling event in March, the team has completed three open-water sampling events. Sampling is now biweekly through June and then weekly through October. The field team collects water samples for nutrient analysis and phytoplankton identification, multiparameter water quality sensor depth profiles, photosynthetically active radiation depth profiles, and Secchi depth measurements. We have also retrieved 6 of 8 dissolved oxygen sensor moorings that have been collecting low water column temperature and DO readings since deployment in early February at each site. Data previews coming soon!

Additionally, you may have seen the project, the estuary, and our team members in the news lately - if not, be sure to check out these two articles from WPR and Hometown Focus and this segment from Fox 21 News:

-Article by Danielle Kaeding of WPR: https://www.wpr.org/water-quality-sampling-effort-lake-superior-estuary-targets-emerging-threats-harmful-algal-blooms 

-Article by Hometown Focus: https://www.hometownfocus.us/articles/st-louis-river-water-quality-project-launched-by-nrri-others/ 

-Fox 21 News segment on project: https://www.fox21online.com/2023/05/08/new-grant-to-increase-water-quality-monitoring-in-st-louis-river-estuary/