Lake Anna had low levels of anatoxin in nearly all (111/120) of the drone water samples.

Mean concentrations of microcystins (MCs) in drone water samples were 15.00, 1.92, and 0.02 ppb for GLSM, Lake Erie, and Lake Anna, respectively. Our methods included testing for cyanotoxins, phycocyanin, and nutrients from surface water samples. One hundred and eighty water samples (40 at GLSM, 20 at Lake Erie, and 120 at Lake Anna) were collected and analyzed from 18 drone flights. The DOWSE consisted of a 3D-printed sampling device tethered to a drone (uncrewed aerial system, or UAS), and was used to collect surface water samples at different distances (10–100 m) from the shore or from an anchored boat.

We used a unique DrOne Water Sampling SystEm (DOWSE) to collect water samples from the surface of three different HABs in Ohio (Grand Lake St Marys, GLSM and Lake Erie) and Virginia (Lake Anna), United States in 2019.

In lakes with active HABs, surface samples are generally sufficient for HAB water quality assessments. These collections are often restricted to certain months of the year, and generally are only performed at a limited number of collection sites. Water samples can be collected from the surface, from discrete-depth collections, and/or from depth-integrated intervals. Current sampling protocols in some lakes involve teams of researchers that collect samples by hand from a boat and/or from the shoreline. Little is known about the distribution and spread of freshwater HABs. Climate conditions and anthropogenic influences such as agricultural run-off can alter the onset and intensity of HABs.

8Lake Anna Civic Association, Mineral, VA, United Statesįreshwater harmful algal blooms (HABs), caused mostly by toxic cyanobacteria, produce a range of cyanotoxins that threaten the health of humans and domestic animals.

7Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States.

6Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States.

5Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.

4Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States.

3Lumigen Instrument Center, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States.

2Lake Campus, Wright State University, Celina, OH, United States.

1School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States.

Ross 7, Javier González-Rocha 7,8, Craig Powers 1,4, Lowell Pratt 8, Harry Looney 8, Greg Baker 8 and David G. Ault 5, Durelle Scott 6, Hosein Foroutan 4, Shane D. Westrick 3, Charbel Harb 4, Hope Gruszewski 1, Andrew P.

Frontier Engagement by Regina Scott