Brown bag lecture on Algal Blooms set for April 17

Press release

Montana State University-Northern will continue its Spring 2024 Brown Bag Lecture Series with a presentation titled “Algal Blooms Community Health Literacy Program,” by Professor of Biology Terri Hildebrand, Ph.D.

The event will be held on Wednesday, April 17, from noon to 1 p.m. in Hensler Auditorium in the Applied Technology Center, and it is open to the public. Sack lunches are provided but limited, so attendees are encouraged to RSVP by Monday, April 15, at https://www.msun.edu/otle/brownbag.aspx or by calling 406-265-3775.

Public lands provide opportunities for students, educators, land managers, and community members to work together to enhance overall understanding of natural processes while also incorporating new information into land management efforts. This is especially true for freshwater habitats that comprise some of the most altered ecosystems on Earth. Many nutrient enriched waterways support harmful algal blooms — HABs — one of the greatest freshwater quality threats to public health and aquatic ecosystems.

In her presentation, Hildebrand will communicate results from a large study that included Montana State University-Northern students and faculty. The study sought to characterize water conditions in Beaver Creek and incoming tributaries as they exist on Beaver Creek Park in Hill County. Two seasons of data collection yielded significant baseline information on the water system’s aquatic geo-morphology and chemistry. In addition, a survey assessed community knowledge of HABs. Using a Community Based Participatory Approach that involves regional stakeholders, results from this work may reduce the occurrence of regional HABs and improve the quality of local waters, as well as the economical and recreational opportunities they provide.