FILE - An aerial view on Aug. 19, 2021, of algal blooms in the Ross Island Lagoon, to the right of the Willamette River's mainstem.
Brandon Swanson / OPB
The Ross Island Lagoon, which sits in the center of the four-island complex known as Ross Island, is a byproduct of decades of mining. In addition to industrial purposes, the lagoon also has a long history of being used recreationally and provides habitat for a variety of vulnerable plant and animal species.
In 2015, researchers began to see cyanobacterial blooms in the lagoon. Cyanobacteria is a type of bacteria that can pose a serious threat to the health of animals and people who come into close contact with the water. When present, it gives the water a bright green appearance.
Because the lagoon is a warm, stagnant pool, it’s an ideal breeding ground for cyanobacteria. And it’s only getting warmer due to climate change. The tide from the Willamette River pulls the cyanobacteria out into the river’s main flow, contaminating the rest of the water. The Oregon Health Authority routinely releases warnings urging against recreational river use during warmer seasons because of this.
Since 2017, Oregon State University and the Willamette River group the Human Access Project have been working on reducing these lagoon blooms. There is work being done by different groups to address the cyanobacterial blooms in the Ross Island Lagoon. Desirée Tullos, professor of water resources engineering at Oregon State University, joins us to share more.
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