Three L.A.-area lakes the focus of intensive sampling to better understand bloom events

SCCWRP has selected three Los Angeles-area lakes that will be the focus of intensive sampling this summer to better understand the underlying factors that promote ecologically disruptive cyanobacterial bloom events and how these events unfold.

The three lakes – Machado Lake, Lake Piru and Legg Lake – were selected from among 17 recreational lakes where HAB (harmful algal bloom) sampling activities were conducted in the days surrounding the popular Labor Day holiday weekend last year.

During the sampling, which will be conducted every other week from June to September, researchers will document which specific cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins are being produced during bloom events, as well as track temporal progression of the blooms.

The sampling activities represent an early opportunity to test-drive elements of a proposed statewide strategy for monitoring harmful algal blooms (HABs) in freshwater environments. The strategy, which calls for significantly boosting capacity to track freshwater HABs in California, was published this spring.