Seeking microcystin data from freshwater lakes and reservoirs in Va., Md., and NC. If you have such datasets or know of someone who may, please contact Jane Walker at janewalk@vt.edu or (540) 231-4159 by April 15, 2023.
Microcystin is a class of toxins produced by certain freshwater cyanobacteria, commonly known as blue-green algae. Submitted datasets need to contain all of the following information:
- Microcystin concentrations with any combination of concurrent chlorophyll-a (Chl-a), total nitrogen (TN), and/or total phosphorus (TP) concentrations
- Sample site coordinates (lat. & long.) and sample depth
- Sample date
Please see the flyer for more information about this project (Call for Microcystin Data), including other requested information associated with the dataset.
Purpose of this Request: The Virginia Water Resources Research Center (“Water Center”) is assisting the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in obtaining datasets containing microcystin concentrations from freshwater lakes and reservoirs in Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina. The requested datasets will be used by the Water Quality Academic Advisory Committee (AAC) to help determine if Virginia’s current nutrient criteria for lakes/reservoirs adequately protect the recreation use, as defined through microcystin concentrations.
