Have you arrived at the beach or boat launch to find the day you planned is no longer a go due to abundant algae? Not the best surprise. Use BloomFinder and stay on top of the changes!
Natural color composite of the North basin, Lake Winnipeg, August 2, 2017 at 10 m resolution. Green areas are algal blooms, dark areas are relatively clear water, bright areas are strongly reflective due to suspended sediments near the surface. Rivers from the east have pooled humic "tea stained" water along the east shore. A rather striking, but unfortunate, image that speaks volumes about the state of our lake. Copyright: contains modified ESA data.
Southern Basin Lake Winnipeg, August 14, 2017. Copyright: contains modified ESA data.
A system of change
Lake Winnipeg, considered a Case 2 waterbody by scientists due to its complex character, is a dynamic and changing system. This high resolution satellite image captured on August 14, 2017 shows complex patterns of algae (green), total suspended solids (tan/grey) sourced mainly from the Red River, and the optically dark "tea stained" water from the Winnipeg River in the Precambrian Shield to the east. BloomFinderwould have been handy on this day! The algae evident at the surface of Winnipeg Beach and Gimli were much less abundant than at Grand Beach. If you were planning a day trip from Winnipeg soon after this image, the west side of the lake definately would have been a better option. Take advantage of the BloomFinder imagery and social media to find out what the conditions are on your beach of interest are. Plan your day and stay on top of the changes!
Interested in being an ambassador for your beach? Help your community make daily decisions about the use of your local or favorite beaches use by using the BloomFinder app frequently by casting votes on your local and current conditions. Develop a local following on BloomFinder Facebook Group by uploading photos, video and comments on what's going on at the beach.
The Future of Lake Winnipeg
The recovery of Lake Winnipeg requires a complex action plan that reduces nutrient inputs to the lake. A “minimum time to recovery” approach requires collaboration between all levels of government, the private sector and importantly, the public. As we slowly work towards this it is clear the recovery of Lake Winnipeg will likely be multi-generational in duration. The algal blooms present in the summer therefore pose a significant and long-term challenge for users of the lake. We developed BloomFinder to help people adapt and plan their summer recreation on the south basin. As users of the lake we wanted to create a practical solution to this problem. However, the underlying reason for the project is to create awareness, educate the affected community to understand the lake, recognize future change, and thereby improve public participation in the recovery of the lake. If you enjoy the south basin BloomFinder is for you!
Stay on top of the changes with BloomFinder!
The location and size of summer algal blooms in the south basin are always changing with the weather and the wind. Some of the algae in Lake Winnipeg create what are called harmful algal blooms (HAB’s) which can make us and our pets sick. Until now, people had to travel to the beach to find out if it was a beach day. Today, advances in technology enable us to live smarter. We can now monitor the algae in lake closely and adapt our daily lives to stay on top of the changes. This may mean changing your plan to visit a different beach. In the worst-case scenario, it may be that other activities on this day are a better option for your family and guests. BloomFinder helps you even when it is bloom season and the beach is not the best option.
The BloomFinder App brings satellite images, internet technology, and the user community together. Run BloomFinder on your cell phone or desktop internet browser to help you plan your recreation by helping to avoid algal blooms and make the best use of our Great Lake.
How does it work?
When a satellite image is available we'll upload it to the BloomFinder app and provide a map that indicates what the beaches are like based on this image. When you are near the lake you can cast a vote for your beach to help others know what the water is like. If you are travelling to the south basin check out Today’s User Vote map before you leave.
A Peek Inside the BloomFinder App
Two maps are made frequently to help your daily decision-making.
1. Satellite Map. When clouds are absent, and a high-resolution satellite image is available we upload a satellite image and map the state of the beaches. The maps below show a satellite image from 2017 with the coastal zone classified to show the beaches (yellow) with place names to get your oriented.
BloomFinders nearshore zone map showing beaches (yellow) and other nearshore zones combined (e.g. rocky, vegetated in blue).
A zoom detail of the image above showing individual beaches and place names. If you cast a vote while near a beach you select a nearshore zone segment using this map.
An example of a nearshore zone map provided by BloomFinder based on the underlying satellite image. Blue nearshore zones are “good to go”, yellow are patchy blooms with some pockets of good water “it’s OK”, and red are shores with abundant blooms “no go”. In this case we can see the west coast generally is good, as is Traverse Bay.
Todays User Map: Users close to the lake can cast votes on the state of the water every day. This map is updated often during the day with new votes and looks similar to the segemented nearshore map above, but without the satellite image background. This map is real-time, will change with votes during the day and helps you plan today’s activities.
Get the App (coming soon).
BloomFinder App FAQ
· Why can’t I find the BloomFinder app on Google Play or the Apple App Store? The only place to get the BloomFinder app is here.
· How long will the BloomFinder Application run? BloomFinder is an annual subscription which requires renewal by June 1 each year, except in 2020.
· How does the App update? You do not have to update the BloomFinder App. We do that for you. This means sometimes you will open the BloomFinder app and see new goodies!
· What platforms can BloomFinder run on? BloomFinder runs on iOS, Android, and your desktop browsers. If you are at home and are interested in looking at the satellite images it is worthwhile using your computer monitor to better appreciate the high-resolution data.
· Should I be concerned about my cellular data plan and the use of satellite images? Today, most cell plans in use have unlimited data. If not, first notice how much data you have used. If you have plenty of room left, use the current satellite image as you expect you would normally, then look at your usage again. If you are at home, access the satellite user map from your phone while you are on WiFi. After this, the satellite map will be cached on your phone for immediate or later use.
· How often are the satellite images taken? About every 5 days.
· Do I need to remove maps from the BloomFinder App? No, we take care of that automatically. You just start the app to see the maps we provide. They are current.
· Who is doing the work behind the scenes? Nextgen Environmental Research hires a summer student in the environmental or computer sciences to work on the satellite data and the nearshore zone maps. Yes, the app requires real humans and trains them in the technologies, too. If you are an undergraduate in one or both fields and think this kind of stuff is cool and want to be involved, then call us!
· Who do I contact if the app seems not to run correctly, or I have a suggestion to improve it? Info@nextgenenvironment.ca
BloomFinder Facebook Group Sign Up - Stay on top of the changes!
BloomFinder social media group - sign-up as a member using the form below. We’ll send you an invite to the group personally via email. After that, follow the BloomFinder Facebook group to learn about the new satellite image uploaded to the app, and some cool science!
We consider your information private. It is needed should we need to contact you about changes or enhancements to BloomFinder in the future. You'll see links to BloomFinder's satellite maps and our social media site on the Thank You message immediately after signing up. Make sure you bookmark these!