Likely causes of cyanobacterial blooms, nuisance vegetation in Bay Delta chronicled in new reports

SCCWRP and its partners have completed a comprehensive review of the likely causes of cyanobacterial blooms and nuisance vegetation in the San Francisco Bay Delta, concluding that nutrient loading likely plays a role but that other factors such as temperature and hydrological modification also are likely to be important drivers.

The review noted that existing monitoring efforts have been inadequate to properly characterize the magnitude of the problem.

The review of the Delta was published as two SCCWRP technical reports – one on macrophytes and one on cyanobacteria.

The findings will help Delta managers set research and funding priorities in the coming years.