NALMS: https://www.nalms.org/nalms-symposia/

Greetings all,

Yet another interesting conference helping me to harvest scientific and management knowledge and best practices which I am sure will help me to continue my Water Resource Management path.

I admit there were too many parallel and very interesting sessions which unfortunately could not be all attended, however the logistics of the conference allowed to quickly switch between  sessions.

Workshop: (sensors)

• I gained a better grasp on se nsor technology, which was jointly proposed by researchers and practitioners. The additional water technology exhibit helped to get more sensor technical questions answered.
• The workshop emphasized in particular the continuous data logging and temperature profiling. LMN (Northeast Lake Management Network) groups all those lakes for which continuous monitoring (data acquisition) is available. I am working on putting a similar system for LSC. I need the collaboration of Isabelle Laurier (Buoys and YSO), Ville de Quebec (Solar panel, telemetry and configuration, about 3000$ ) also to set up a temperature profiler (APEL or others sponsors).
• The workshop also proposed a  “Build your own”  continuous collection sensor and dataset using known basic sensors such as the HOBO loggers. I used them before with USDA-FS for stream assessment.
•  Several cases of P and T evaluation and analysis were proposed in the context of continuous monitoring.
•  GLEON network was introduced; I joined to the network myself and will join APEL if not already done by Sonja.
• The session closed with more data analysis of continuous monitoring.

Themed sessions:

• Watershed development and ecosystem rehabilitation:
  • Understanding from others’ experiences what it means to establish a watershed management plan at small scale. Its establishment proposes the same challenges of a wider scale but with more economical vulnerability.
  • Volunteering watershed organizations, formed by retired scientists, academics, engineers, practitioners, and citizens brought to the table their experience and challenges in a new roles.
• Septic Tanks System:
  • Several efforts at watershed or lake level were presented explaining the approach used to assess and remediate the slow, long lasting effect of septic tanks leakage.
  • The highlight showed a concerning reality. Significant percentages of septic tanks owners are aware they have a system but rarely or never maintain it; more alarming,  some system owners do not even know they have one installed or use dry well to collect the wastewaters without particular care.
• Road salts:
  • Presenters showed efforts done by watershed or lake management organization to mitigate reduce and offset the impact of road salt.
  • Technology, education, measurements shows net impact on the reduction of road salt distribution.
• Aquatic invasive species:
  • Cataloging of most wanted (other session also talked to Zebra mussels which I could not attend).
  • Efforts to eradicate , prevent and control several types of species among which starry stonewort, Hydrilla, Water chestnut were presented.
  • Interesting to note the shift between some species such as hydrilla and myriophilia and the zonation that may increase due to the availability of nutrients and the increase solar radiation (deeper water penetration).
• Source water protection and management:
  • Management strategies at best.
  • The New York approach presented by the DEP (Department of Environmental Protection).
  • A consolidated yearly available budget together with the establishment of collaborative projects highly supports the protection of water sources for the future.
  • o   United States funding network.
• Harmful Algal Blooms 
  • Use of remote sensing technology (drones and satellites) and advanced analyses to assess algal presence or favorable condition for their blooms
  • The limitation is still to assess type of cyanobacteria, which may release toxicity but as sensor are improving in terms of spectral capabilities more advanced analysis will permit to assess directly or indirectly and in more detail the colony composition.

I felt particularly at ease with most of the subjects discussed in all sessions and I had the chance to significantly extend my network and compare realities such as Lake St. Charles. I will definitely want to present next event.

By the way, Melanie (APEL director) was awarded for our work at Lake St. Charles.

regards,

Giancarlo