Big 3 Takeaways- Partnering to Mitigate Harmful Algal Blooms across the Midwest and Beyond
The Current Webinar 49: Partnering to Mitigate Harmful Algal Blooms across the Midwest and Beyond featured three members from our Network’s Mitigating Harmful Algal Blooms or HAB team as they discussed HABs, and their soon to be released whitepaper cataloging Extension and state-based HAB programs and resources, and the lessons they have learned along the way.
Miss the webinar? Watch the full recording on our YouTube channel. Don’t have time to watch the recording? Not a problem – here are three big takeaways:
- Lois Wolfson with Department of Fisheries and Wildlife and Institute of Water Research at Michigan State University and member of the Network’s Leadership team, provided an overview of different types of HABs, including cyanobacteria – a common and potentially toxic HAB in the North Central Region. Wolfson explained why cyanobacteria are so successful in a variety of ecosystems due to its buoyancy allowing it to capture nutrients at varied depths, and its wide temperature tolerance.
- Melissa Miller with the Iowa Water Center discussed the process and findings of the Network funded HAB team. Through monthly Zoom meetings, and one in-person meeting, they have inventoried existing Extension and Water Resources Research Institute HAB research and resources in the region, and identified 5 key recommendation areas for future HAB resources and research – general HAB knowledge, identifying, monitoring and treating HABs, human health and HABs, animal health and HABs and landscape nutrient management practices and HABs.
- Chad Cook of UW-Madison Division of Extension discussed the team’s whitepaper, which is due out next month, beginning with the products the team is recommending for development such as a social media toolkit, factsheets that are customizable by state, and HAB videos. Cook also highlighted some of the team’s ‘lessons learned’ such as the need to compartmentalize the vast information available on HABs, and acknowledge the variation in state-level HAB programming and outreach.
You can watch the full webinar recording on the Network’s YouTube Channel and view the presentation slides in our media archive. For more information on the work presented in this webinar, please contact the presenters:
- Lois Wolfson wolfson1@msu.edu
- Melissa Miller millerms@iastate.edu
- Chad Cook cook@wisc.edu