Economic Valuation of Freshwater Lakes and Reservoirs Experiencing Harmful Algal Blooms

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Aquatic nuisance species, including harmful algae, impact freshwater systems, infrastructure, operations, and associated ecological resources across the Nation. HABs have resulted in recreational closures, public health concerns, and billions of dollars in economic impacts. HABs are increasing in frequency and duration, resulting in environmental, socio‑economic, and human/wildlife health concerns . To stop the spread of HAB innovative, cost-effective, and scalable technologies for early detection, protection, and management of HABs are needed. This research effort focuses on 1) capturing the economic impact (i.e. damage assessment), and 2) benefits of HAB mitigation strategies to freshwater lakes and reservoirs , including damages avoided through scalable technologies, and benefits to the ecosystem by controlling HABs. This project will establish an interdisciplinary collaboration between USACE and a CESU partner. This collaboration will assess the economic impacts of HABs on freshwater lakes and reservoirs and the societal benefits of controlling HABs. This collaboration seeks to capture impacts and benefits of treatment of HABs to inland lakes and reservoirs by documenting damages avoided by controlling HABs and identifying benefits to the ecosystem by treating/controlling HABs. Successful proposals will also (a) clearly identify question(s) the proposed project will seek to answer (i.e., project technical objectives); (b) clearly describe the tasks and data required to answer those question(s) (i.e., data quality objectives); and (c) describe envisioned project deliverables by task and by year. Proposals that demonstrate intent to maximize use of existing federal and state HAB programs, activities, and data are encouraged. Successful proposals will identify quantitative and qualitative success criteria for each project task and objective; identification of go/no-go decision points at the end of each year is also encouraged. This project will: 1) Capture economic damages avoided (i.e. damage assessment) by controlling HABs freshwater inland lakes and reservoirs and surrounding area. 2) Describe quantitative and/or qualitatively the benefits of treating/controlling HABs to ecosystems experiencing HAB events through Ecosystem Goods and Services framework. 3) Quantify or semi-quantify the return on investment of scalable technologies for detecting preventing, or management of HABs. Findings will be reported to the public through technical reports, technical notes, journal articles, presentations, attendance of In Progress Reviews, as appropriate and needed.

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