Aug. 14, 2013
VCU Rice Center facilities water quality advisory group
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) held its second James River Stakeholder Advisory Group meeting at the VCU Rice Center on Tuesday, Aug. 13th. The Stakeholder Group is comprised of representatives from advocacy groups, local businesses and government agencies which deal directly with water quality issues in the James River.
Presentations were given by Dr. Paul Bukaveckas (VCU Rice Center) and Dr. Arthur Butt (DEQ) to update the group on recent progress in monitoring and modeling algal blooms in the James River. This work is being conducted as part of a six-year, $3 million dollar project to evaluate existing water quality standards for the river and their associated nutrient load allocations. Dr. Bukaveckas reported that 2012 was an active year for algal blooms in the James, with spring and summer dinoflagellate blooms occurring in the lower, saline James, and persistent cyanotoxins observed in the upper, freshwater James. Dr. Butt presented research plans for 2013 that focus on assessing potential deleterious effects associated with the occurrence of algal blooms.
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