Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID UT_2024_Hou

Bear Lake’s Microbial Dynamics in the Shoreline: Unraveling the Hidden Threats to Ecosystems and Human Health

Institute: Utah
Year Established: 2024 Start Date: 2024-09-01 End Date: 2025-08-31
Total Federal Funds: $32,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $31,998

Principal Investigators: Liyuan Hou

Project Summary: Bear Lake, known for its stunning green-blue color, is facing increasing environmental challenges due to human activity, tourism, and resource development. Pollution from sources like septic tanks and fecal waste has raised concerns about eutrophication, harmful algae blooms (HABs), and the spread of pathogens in the lake. Our project aims to understand how human activity affects microbial communities in Bear Lake throughout the year, and how these communities contribute to water quality. We’ll use advanced techniques like metagenomic sequencing to analyze microbial diversity and function, and quantitative PCR to measure genes related to HABs and fecal contamination. Additionally, we’ll assess various water quality parameters. By understanding their interactions, we will provide insights for sustainable lake management. Our research will help in reducing pollution, predicting microbial threats, and managing anthropogenic pollution. Ultimately, this project aims to support the preservation and sustainable management of freshwater lake’s ecological health by using Bear Lake as an example.