1. Caloosahatchee Watershed Issues and Cyanobacteria Blooms Cyanobacteria Effects Caloosahatchee Cyanos Environmental Controls Temperature Flushing Nutrient effect Watershed Flow timing Nutrients Cyanobacteria Upstream Downstream Mitigation, Use as Indicator Rick Bartleson, Mark Thompson SCCF Marine Lab Acknowledgements: Lee Co. Environmental Laboratory, SFWMD

2. Effects of Cyanobacteria Increased turbidity Decreased light to SAV and other phytoplankton Oxygen depletion Toxic to other species Reduced trophic transfer to desirable species Microscope photos I’ve taken Several River photos I’ve taken 2011

3. Caloosahatchee Cyanobacteria Frequent cyanobacteria blooms east of S79 Also blooms of dinoflagellates- Kansodinium ambiguum 2009, 2013, Ceratium, Akashiwo sanguinea Markley and Parsons 2013 Kansodinium ambiguum

4. Caloosahatchee Cyanobacteria Multiple species Simultaneous bloom along river 2011 Blooms spread down-estuary- 2005, 2006, 2008, 2013 Solveson, Olga 2006 Cassani, 2008 Anabaena Aphanizomenon Microcystis Cylindrospermopsis Others Planktothrix sp., Pseudanabaena sp., Merismopedia sp., Aphanocapsa sp. 2011

5. Estuarine Cyanobacteria Lyngbya majuscula malyngolide 2006, 2007, 2013 Also Synechococcus University of Sevilla

6. Estuarine and Gulf Cyanobacteria Gulf Trichodesmium erythraeum San Carlos Bay 8/10/2005 Beautiful Island 2006 Cape Coral Bridge 2009 Shell Point 2013 Sanibel Beaches, San Carlos Bay, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 Dust- and mineral-iron utilization by the marine dinitrogen-fixer Trichodesmium Rubin et al. 2011.

7. 2011 Environmental Controls Flow S79 (cfs) 2013 11/5 Low Conc. 5/12 13 µg/L Conditions favoring cyanobacteria: Stratified or stagnant water Low flushing rate temperatures >25°C March-Nov CDOM BCOD

8. Environmental Controls- Nutrients N:P <22 favors cyanobacteria OP concentrations above limiting levels High nutrient loading rates N, P saturated growth-Fe limited Lake Okeechobee, Havens et al. 2003 TN:TP ratio 15.6 @ S79 (2002-2004) S79 Orthophosphorus

9. Nutrient loading OP Wet season 2012 Lee County Data TP kg d -1 S79 SFWMD Data

10. Nutrient Loading Paerl, H.W., et al. 2008. Co-occurrence of dinoflagellates and cyanobacteria harmful algal blooms in southwest Florida coastal waters: A case for dual nutrient (N and P) input controls. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 371: 143-153. dual N and P input reductions are usually required for effective long-term control and management of blooms (Paerl) Ortho P Boca Grande Pass NH 3 Pine Island Sound Ortho P (µgL -1 ) Half saturation Level Estuary dissolved nutrient levels promote algal growth

11. Nutrient Loading

12. Nutrient Loading- Caloosahatchee Anthropogenic Septic systems Sewage Treatment Stormwater Runoff Agricultural 1.7 million cattle in FL in 2003 and 2012 @150g N excretion/d=930metric tons N/yr

13. Nutrient Loading -Sources - Atmospheric P 20 fold increase in atmospheric P deposition rates from sugar cane burning (Grimshaw and Dolske 2002). Atmospheric P load to Charlotte Harbor (at 50 mg m -2 yr -1 ) is 40 metric tons yr -1. P deposition (mg m -2 yr -1 ) 1979 (Brezonik et al., 1983). 84 mg m -2 yr -1 average in circled area

14. Nutrient Loading Upstream Of S79 Higher ratio indicates sewage

15. Nutrient loading- SWFL Drainage Surface water runoff has been drastically increased by drainage ditches and canals.

16. Increased watershed results in more surface water, wider salinity range and higher nutrient and color loadings Nutrient loading-Increased Runoff Former watershed Added watershed

17. Reduced Sheetflow and Groundwater Discharge Estero Bay Watershed Section 1999 Mid Hawthorn 48’ drop

18. Kissimmee Basin Storage 20’ drop6’ drop

19. Reducing Runoff and Nutrient Loading Allow aquifer recharge Route rain to fallow farmlands and pastures Nutrient removal using SAV (restoration) and algae TMDLs for phosphorus and CDOM Fertilizer minimization Livestock fencing, manure management Replacement of septic systems with tertiary treatment Solutions

20. Questions/ Acknowledgments SCCF Annual Fund Drive Contributors