TROPHIC PROFILING OF THE MOUTH OF THE GENESEE RIVER AT LAKE ONTARIO AS FUNCTION OF SEASONALITY AND DETERMINATION OF GREEN ALGAE AND BLUE GREEN ALGAE USING THE LANDSAT IMAGES

Toxic algal blooms as a result of elevated trophic-levels (phosphate and nitrate) in waterways is presently one of the major concerns in the Great Lake regions. During the summer months, Lake Ontario has been experiencing massive algal blooms, which are so prominent these can be visualized from outer space. Thus seasonal measurement of the nutrient levels of the major stream and rivers, which feed the lakes, are crucial to monitor the extent of the problem and to find a sustainable solution. The objective of the current long-term field study is to determine the contribution of the lower watershed of the Genesee River in increasing the nutrient levels of Lake Ontario as function of seasonality. Over a period of a year, water samples were collected at five different seasons (summer and fall of 2016; winter, spring, and summer of 2017) from six different locations along the mouth of the river and were analyzed for nitrate, ammonium, and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations. Other water quality parameters measured were pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen (DO). Currently, the LANDSAT images of this location over these five seasons are being analyzed to quantitatively determine the green algae vs blue green algae through chlorophyll and phycocyanin measurements. Results thus far show the total phosphorous (TP) concentrations in all locations were many times higher than the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) permissible guideline of 0.02mg/L. Nitrate-nitrogen levels were higher than the guideline (1 mg/L) for clean water, but lower than the EPA guideline of 10 mg/L in most locations. In the algae blooming season of 2016, twenty-two species of green-algae were identified, primarily on the lake shore as well as on the rocks submerged in the river waters. Locations with high algal growth corresponded to higher concentrations of ammonium, lower levels of DO, and acidic pH. Currently, experiments are underway to develop a sustainable system for removing the excess nutrients from the Genesee River along with its feedwater streams and tributaries to decrease the nutrient discharge of the Genesee River into Lake Ontario.