Plastic pollution in marine environments has received considerable attention from scientists, policy makers and the media. Only recently, however, has much consideration been given to the unique problems microplastics (0.3 mm - 5.0 mm) present to aquatic systems. The small size of these plastic particulates makes them difficult to study and potentially more hazardous to marine and freshwater environments. While most efforts to quantify microplastic pollution have focused on marine environments, this study investigates microplastic load in a large freshwater body (Lake Washington) and the possible link between rain events and microplastic concentration. Water samples were obtained with flow meter-equipped plankton nets modified for accurate surface collection, and then processed using an oxidation reaction and visual inspection method developed by UW Tacoma. Results suggest freshwater microplastic pollution reflects average mass found in marine environments, and that there may be a correlation between rain events and higher microplastic concentrations.

There is high demand for clean, inexpensive, alternative fuel sources to supplement or replace fossil fuels.  The alga, Botryococcus braunii, is well-studied due to its high oil content (15-76%) and ability to store extracellular hydrocarbons which can be extracted and converted to a variety of fuels. Investigation of variable growing conditions for potential biodiesel sources can help researchers determine optimum conditions for maximizing hydrocarbon yields while lowering production costs.  Though oil from B. braunii is still too expensive to produce commercially, utilization of natural light outdoors can lower the overall cost of production. This work models the normal outdoor light levels found in the Pacific Northwest.  Growth rates of algae exposed to light intensities averaging 0.78 Klux for a daily cycle of 8 hours of light were compared with that of algae grown under standard conditions of 10 Klux for a daily cycle of 12 hours of light.  Studying these conditions allows for a more accurate estimate of the amount of supplemental light needed for optimal growth during the fall and winter for an outdoor photobioreactor.  This type of data is critical to evaluating the role algal-derived biodiesel might play in a suite of alternative energy sources for the Pacific Northwest.