Rising MST Senior Combats Algae Blooms

For rising MST senior Emily Jiang, what started as an MST research project in 2024 has evolved into a community endeavor. As a sophomore, Emily researched blue-green algae and ways to combat its spread. Algae blooms, rapid growths of algae and cyanobacteria in bodies of water, are mainly caused by rising temperatures and fertilizer runoff. These blooms often produce toxins that can harm underwater organisms and other wildlife.

The Fallen Leaf Lake near the Lacamas Lake trail system became the target of Emily’s research. Algae blooms in the body of water are detrimental to pets and people around the area due to its proximity to the hiking trails, and instances of algae blooms in the area have significantly increased over the years. Determined to protect the natural resource for local visitors, Emily came across the idea of a “floating island,” a raft planted with native wetland species. The plants’ roots dangle into the water, absorbing excess nutrients like phosphorus that would otherwise fuel algae growth. This design offers a natural, chemical-free way to improve water quality.

Since commercially bought floating islands could not be used in the lake due to cost restrictions, Jiang decided to build her own prototype. With help from her father, Lipin Wang, she placed the island into the lake on July 3. In the coming months, Emily plans to compare plant growth and phosphorus levels between plants on the island and control plants grown at home to determine whether the floating island could become an effective lake-restoration strategy.

Ty Cobb, the president of the Lacamas Lake Watershed Council, notes that Emily’s findings could provide useful data for “scaling up floating wetlands in key hotspots around the lake system, giving us a cost-effective, natural tool to complement our and the city’s ongoing restoration strategy.”  Cobb expressed strong support for Emily’s project, emphasizing that “seeing young stewards like [her] bring community focus to the health of our waters makes me deeply optimistic.”

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