Robert B. Annis Water Resources Institute (AWRI)

Not all algae blooms create toxins and it can be difficult to tell if algae is harmful when looking at it without a microscope. You can learn more about harmful algae blooms (HABs), read frequently asked questions, and see photo examples of algae blooms on the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy's harmful algae bloom website.

AWRI faculty conducting research related to algae and algae blooms:

• Dr. Sarah Hamsher - phycology (the study of algae), genetic barcoding, phylogenetics (evolutionary relationships among organisms), taxonomy, and stream ecology
• Dr. Bopi Biddanda - microbial ecology, Muskegon Lake Observatory buoy, environmental stressors leading to HABs
• Dr. Charlyn Partridge - molecular ecology, microbial community changes in lakes during HABs
• Dr. Al Steinman - aquatic ecology, environmental restoration 

AWRI partners with the Public Health Muskegon County (PHMC) to test E. coli concentrations at public beaches in Muskegon County each summer. Read more about this program on PHMC's Beach Water Monitoring website. You can find data results as well as active beach closures or advisories on the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy's BeachGuard website. 

AWRI researchers involved with Muskegon County E.coli beach monitoring:

• Brian Scull (AWRI Environmental Chemistry Wetlab) - laboratory supervisor, Colilert-18 analysis
• Emma Campbell (Jones Lab) - sampling lead 
• Dr. Kevin Strychar - flow cytometry analysis

Throughout the year, fish sometimes die due to natural causes during seasonal changes or temperature extremes. You can read more about fish kills and find instructions on how to report local fish kills or suspected non-natural fish kills on the Michigan Department of Natural Resources fish kill website.

AWRI faculty conducting research related to fish and fisheries:

• Dr. Carl Ruetz - fisheries ecology and management, population and community ecology, stream ecology
• Dr. Mark Luttenton - Au Sable river brown trout movement, Muskegon River steelhead recruitment, whirling disease in trout
• Dr. Stuart Jones - recreational fisheries dynamics

Microplastics are any pieces of plastic smaller than 5 millimeters (or ~3/16 of an inch). Research on the effects that microplastics have on people, animals, and our environment is ongoing. AWRI participates in several programs related to removing microplastics from our aquatic ecosystems, including cleaning Muskegon area beaches with the our beach cleaning drone the "Laker Raker" and conducting research on the future construction of a bubble barrier in Lansing, MI to remove microplastics in the Grand River. Read more about microplastics on the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy's microplastics website.

AWRI faculty conducting research related to microplastics:

• Dr. Al Steinman - microplastic biofilms and persistent organic pollutants, microplastic pollution clean-ups with GVSU's Laker Raker BeBot drone, effects of microplastic removal via bubble barrier on aquatic ecosystems (with Dr. Amanda Buday, Dr. Matt Cooper, Dr. Mark Luttenton, and Dr. Ryan Otter)
• Dr. Charlyn Partridge - microplastic biofilm communities, impact of microplastic pollution on the health of aquatic wildlife

Beach foam can sometimes be found on the downwind shorelines of lakes, in areas of rivers with a circular current, and downstream of bogs and wetlands. The source of this foam can sometimes be a naturally occurring phenomenon. Areas that have been polluted by PFAS chemicals might see PFAS foam on lakes and streams. Information about PFAS investigations in Muskegon County are provided online by Public Health Muskegon County. Additional PFAS events, information, and resources are shared online by the PFAS Taskforce coordinated by GVSU-AWRI professor emeritus Dr. Rick Rediske and WMEAC's Tanya Cabala. 

If you suspect PFAS foam has formed on a lake or river, report it to EGLE by completing a “Spill/Incident/Pollution” form in the EGLE MiEnviro Portal. You will be able to submit photos of the foam if you have them. Or, instead of filling out the form, you may call the 24-hour Pollution Emergency Alert (PEAS) hotline at 800-292-4706 to report the foam. Helpful information to be provide when completing the complaint form, or if you call the PEAS line, include:

• Your contact information (name, address, phone number).
• Location information - Where exactly the foam is located: e.g., Lake Margrethe at Little Bear Point
• Nearest address and or latitude/longitude coordinates if known
• Color of foam (bright white/off white/other).
• Consistency of foam. Is it light and fluffy like shaving cream or watered down with organic matter?
• How much foam is present, length by width by thickness? (We understand this is an estimate/best guess.)
• If it is a floating mass of foam, which direction is it moving?
• What time did you first observe the foam, and is it still present?
• Have you seen the foam in previous years?
• Optional but helpful: wind speed, wind direction, air temperature.
• Optional but helpful: did/can you take a picture of the foam?

AWRI's Environmental Chemistry Lab sometimes partners with lake and watershed groups to analyze their samples for chemical parameters of water quality. You can find contact information and read more about available tests on the AWRI Environmental Chemistry Wetlab website.