New Mexico Environment Department increases monitoring of blue-green algae – Yahoo

Report on Harmful Algal Blooms in New Mexico and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction: Water Quality Assessment at Eagle Nest Lake

An investigation on October 25th at Eagle Nest Lake, New Mexico, revealed a significant harmful algal bloom (HAB), characterized by dense blue-green algae accumulations. The New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) Surface Water Quality Bureau initiated a response by collecting water samples for toxin analysis by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This action directly addresses the targets of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) by monitoring and assessing the quality of freshwater bodies and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by identifying potential public health threats.

2.0 Public Health and Ecosystem Integrity: A Focus on SDG 3 and SDG 15

2.1 Health Risks Associated with Cyanotoxins

Harmful algal blooms, also known as cyanobacteria, can release toxins upon decay, posing significant risks to human and animal health. These risks are a direct concern for achieving SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being. Reported health impacts include:

• Dermal reactions: rashes and itching
• Neurological symptoms: numbness, fatigue, disorientation
• Gastrointestinal distress: abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea

While no human fatalities have been recorded in New Mexico, incidents of canine mortality have been linked to the ingestion of contaminated water, highlighting the threat to biodiversity and animal welfare under SDG 15: Life on Land.

3.0 State-Level Response and Monitoring Framework

3.1 NMED’s Enhanced Monitoring Program

In alignment with its commitment to SDG 6, NMED has launched a comprehensive program to monitor HABs, which are considered an emerging contaminant problem. The program aims to establish baseline data on the seasonal occurrence and duration of these blooms. The monitoring protocol involves several key steps:

1. Initial surveillance using satellite imagery to detect water pigmentation indicative of potential blooms.
2. Deployment of field teams to sites identified for visual confirmation and sample collection.
3. Laboratory analysis of water samples to confirm the presence of cyanobacteria and associated toxins.
4. Public reporting and social media monitoring, which led to the discovery of a bloom at Quemado Lake.

This multi-pronged approach, which includes public participation, supports SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by fostering community engagement in environmental monitoring and ensuring the safety of public recreational areas.

4.0 Causal Factors and Management Challenges

4.1 Drivers of Algal Blooms

The proliferation of cyanobacteria is linked to several environmental factors, complicating efforts to achieve water quality targets under SDG 6 and protect ecosystems under SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). Key contributors include:

• Nutrient Pollution: High levels of nitrogen and phosphorus from sources such as agriculture, sewage treatment plants, and golf courses.
• Climatic Conditions: Lower-than-normal water levels, potentially resulting from low winter snowpack, are believed to contribute to the frequency of blooms.

4.2 Management Complexities

Effective management is challenging due to a lack of long-term data and the ecological complexity of cyanobacteria. Eradication is not considered a viable option, as it could disrupt the aquatic food web by killing non-toxic algae and may lead to the regrowth of more resilient HABs. This underscores the need for preventative strategies focused on nutrient control rather than reactive measures.

5.0 Public Advisories and Affected Water Bodies

NMED has issued health warnings or advisories for several lakes across the state, demonstrating a commitment to public safety and transparency. This action is crucial for protecting community health (SDG 3). Lakes currently under advisory include:

• Clayton Lake (Health Warning)
• Quemado Lake (Health Warning)
• Eagle Nest Lake
• Snow Lake
• Hopewell Lake
• Charette Lakes
• Maloya Lake
• Santa Cruz Lake

Updated information is available to the public via the NMED’s official harmful algal bloom website, ensuring access to information for safe recreation.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on harmful algal blooms in New Mexico’s lakes touches upon several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary connections are to health, water quality, and the protection of ecosystems.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article directly addresses public health risks associated with the toxins released by blue-green algae. It explicitly states that these toxins “can cause rashes, itching, numbness, fatigue, disorientation, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea.” It also notes the potential for death in extreme cases and mentions that “a handful of dog deaths have been reported.” The issuance of health warnings by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) for several lakes, advising against swimming and keeping pets away, underscores the direct link to protecting human and animal health.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  The core issue of the article is the contamination of freshwater bodies (lakes) by harmful algal blooms, which is a matter of water quality. The NMED’s efforts to conduct “comprehensive water sampling,” test for toxins, and monitor lakes using satellite imagery are all activities aimed at managing and improving the quality of surface water. The article also identifies sources of pollution that contribute to the blooms, such as nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus from “golf courses, sewage treatment plants and from agriculture production,” which directly relates to water pollution control.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  While SDG 14 primarily focuses on marine environments, its principles, particularly regarding pollution, are relevant here. The article discusses nutrient pollution as a driver of algal blooms, a problem that affects both freshwater and marine ecosystems. The discussion about the complexity of the aquatic ecosystem, noting that killing the cyanobacteria “would also kill off other types of algae that don’t produce toxins” and that “Cyanobacteria can also be important to aquatic ecosystems,” highlights the goal of maintaining the health and balance of life below water.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  This goal includes the protection and restoration of inland freshwater ecosystems. The entire article is focused on the ecological health of lakes in New Mexico, such as Eagle Nest Lake, Quemado Lake, and Clayton Lake. The degradation of these freshwater ecosystems by harmful algal blooms is a direct threat to the biodiversity and health of these environments, which falls under the purview of SDG 15.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues and actions described in the article, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 3.9: Substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.

   The article’s focus on the toxins produced by blue-green algae, which are hazardous chemicals causing a range of illnesses and potential death, directly aligns with this target. The NMED’s monitoring program and the issuance of public health advisories for affected lakes are direct actions to prevent and reduce illnesses resulting from water contamination.

2. Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution.

   The article highlights that “nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus can support blue-green algae.” It identifies land-based sources of this pollution, including agriculture and sewage treatment plants. The NMED’s program to sample and monitor water for toxins and understand the blooms is a foundational step toward improving water quality by managing and reducing this type of pollution.

3. Target 6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including lakes.

   The focus on the health of Eagle Nest Lake and several other lakes in New Mexico is a direct connection to this target. The article describes a situation where these freshwater ecosystems are degraded by harmful algal blooms. The monitoring and research efforts by the NMED are aimed at understanding and managing this threat, which is essential for the protection and potential restoration of these lakes.

4. Target 14.1: Prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including nutrient pollution.

   Although the article discusses freshwater lakes, this target is highly relevant because it specifically names “nutrient pollution” from “land-based activities” as a key problem. The article identifies these same sources (agriculture, sewage) as contributors to the algal blooms in New Mexico’s lakes. The challenge described is a textbook example of the nutrient pollution this target aims to address.

5. Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems.

   The article’s subject is the ecological health of inland freshwater ecosystems (lakes). The presence of harmful algal blooms represents a failure to conserve these ecosystems in a healthy state. The actions taken by the NMED, such as comprehensive sampling and monitoring, are efforts to understand and manage the lakes, which is a prerequisite for their conservation and sustainable use for recreation and ecological balance.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Water Quality Measurements

  The article explicitly states that the NMED is conducting “comprehensive water sampling” and that samples are sent to an “Environmental Protection Agency lab to test for toxins.” This directly implies an indicator: the concentration of specific cyanotoxins in water bodies. The article also mentions that two toxins were “added to the state’s water quality standards,” providing a clear benchmark for measurement. This relates to Indicator 6.3.2 (Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality).

• Extent of Algal Blooms

  The NMED’s use of “satellite images of lakes” and an app that “alerts them if the pigments in the water indicate the potential presence of harmful algal blooms” points to an indicator: the spatial extent and frequency of harmful algal blooms in monitored lakes. Tracking this data over time, which the article notes is currently lacking (“there aren’t very many data sets over time”), would measure progress in protecting water-related ecosystems (Target 6.6).

• Public Health Advisories

  The article lists several lakes for which NMED has issued advisories or health warnings (Quemado Lake, Clayton Lake, Snow, Hopewell, etc.). This suggests an indicator: the number and duration of public health advisories issued for recreational water bodies due to harmful algal blooms. A reduction in these advisories would indicate an improvement in water safety and public health protection (Target 3.9).

• Incidence of Illness

  The article notes that “No human deaths from harmful algal blooms have been reported in New Mexico, although a handful of dog deaths have been reported.” This implies an indicator related to public health impact: the number of reported human and animal illnesses or deaths attributed to exposure to harmful algal blooms. This directly measures progress toward Target 3.9.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: yahoo.com