LB 2-10 - Going Green: Analyzing the Influence of Aerating Fountains on HABs Within SIUC Campus Lake

Campus Lake, located in Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), Illinois, has an extensive history of experiencing yearly cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cHABs) due to excess nutrient deposits from storm drains, hot summer temperatures, and insufficient outflow. In 2016 SIUC took action to mitigate the blooms by draining and dredging the entire shoreline to remove a large amount of deposited nutrients. However, it proved to be a temporary fix as the lake has since had annual summer cHABs, with a particularly intense occurrence in 2021. This study conducted in the summer of 2021 aimed to analyze the efficiency of solar-powered water fountains in mitigating concentrations of Microcystis aeruginosa, a species of cyanobacteria, by lowering temperatures and dispersing nutrients in areas proximate to the fountains. Water temperature data was tracked continuously, and samples were taken biweekly from four distinct sites - two with fountains and two without fountains. To further determine the efficacy of the fountains, a nearby pond that also experienced cHABs to a lesser extent was used as a treatment site. Results showed that lower water temperatures appeared to have an influence on cyanobacterial concentrations in each waterbody. However, the results were inconclusive in determining whether the fountains had a significant impact on temperatures and the prevalence of cyanobacteria due to the differences in ammonia concentration, the characteristics of the treatment sites, and chronic disfunction of the fountain motors at Becker Pavilion caused by biofouling despite weekly cleaning efforts. Nevertheless, the data collected from this study will prove useful in future cHAB research and in determining future remedial actions on Campus Lake.