Detection, prevention, management, and scalable technologies for harmful algal bloom reduction

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Background: Aquatic nuisance species, including harmful algae, impact USACE waterways, infrastructure, operations, and associated resources across the Nation; it’s estimated that nutrient pollution and harmful algal blooms cause as estimated $1B in lost tourism revenue alone. In response, innovative, cost-effective, and scalable technologies for early detection, protection, and management of aquatic nuisance species are required. Harmful algal blooms are increasing in frequency and duration, resulting in environmental, socio-economic, and human/wildlife health concerns. Future mitigation strategies to reduce these impacts is critical to USACE mission. This research effort focuses on the early detection, protection, and management of harmful algal blooms within the Western Lake Erie Basin, and throughout the Ohio region. Research to address the need to improve capabilities and technologies to respond to, and to mitigate, harmful algal bloom events is needed. Technologies that can be scaled to demonstrate physical, chemical, or biological mitigation approaches to manage harmful algal blooms is particularly needed. Brief Description of Anticipated Work: This research will focus on the following objectives: Objective 1: Develop and demonstrate a process or technology for the reduction of harmful algal bloom (HAB) events through 1) decreased number of events, 2) limiting formation of biomass and toxicity in a HAB bloom, 3) early and rapid detection of HAB, or 4) mitigating algal biomass and toxins after an event, through physical, chemical, AND/OR biological processes. Objective 2: Field demonstration of a process or technology that mitigates a HAB event; the process or technology can demonstrate reduction in biomass and toxicity AND/OR demonstrate reduction in available nutrients feeding the bloom within an aquatic system. Objective 3: Demonstrate potential scalability of the process or technology to encompass a large HAB event or large spatial extent. Public Benefit: Harmful algal blooms are increasing in number of events, spatially, and intensity in lakes, reservoirs, and rivers across the nation. Widespread harmful algal blooms result in public health concerns and economic impacts estimates at $4.5B in Florida alone. The proposed research will increase early detection, prevention, and management of harmful algal blooms before, during, and after an event; scalable technology is also critical to managing a harmful algal event. This information is critical to develop future mitigations strategies to reduce environmental, socio-economic, and human/wildlife health concerns resulting from harmful algal blooms.

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