Harmful Algal Bloom Field Validation Program: Aquatic Nuisance Species, Broad Agency Announcement Special Topic Area.

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Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), which can be caused in freshwater by various cyanobacteria, represent a significant and costly threat to our Nation’s economy and natural resources. HABs impact waterways, infrastructure, operations, and associated resources across the Nation. Innovative, cost-effective, and scalable technologies for early detection, prevention, and management of HABs are needed. This announcement focuses on the field validation of innovative HAB prevention and management technologies, or combinations of technologies, that have been proven at lab or pilot scales. It is essential that these technologies are cost-effective and efficient in varied freshwater system types (e.g. lotic, lentic) and varied climatic ecoregions across our Nation. Proposals that focus extensively on water quality, including impacts to drinking water, are not needed at this time. Proposals that use Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) as a monitoring or surveying method will not be considered. Projects should match one of the following objectives: (1) The project’s potential to significantly reduce the frequency and effects of HABs associated with water resources development projects. (2) The project’s utilization of new, innovative methods or tools, or technology being developed under the Freshwater Harmful Algal Bloom Research and Development Initiative . (3) The degree to which the project leverages existing Federal and State data and ongoing programs and activities of Federal and State agencies. (4) Preference will be given to projects that address a HAB issue associated with a water resources development project in one of the six focus areas identified in eligibility requirements provided below. Offerors and pre-proposals must meet eligibility and other requirements as follows: A field validation project may be implemented anywhere in the nation to address a HAB associated with a water resources development project. Preference will be given to projects located in the six focus areas: the Great Lakes, tidal and inland waters of New Jersey, coastal and tidal waters of Louisiana, waterways of Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in California, Allegheny Reservoir Watershed in New York, and Lake Okeechobee, Florida. The proposed project must be for the purpose of determining the causes of, and/or applying technologies to effectively detect, prevent, manage, or eliminate, HAB associated with a water resources development project. The project must include the gathering and evaluation of technology cost and performance data that will guide technology use and support technology transfer. The proposed project should provide data that could be applied at multiple water resources development projects or federally constructed reservoirs in the Upper Missouri River Basin or the North Platte River Basin and could be expanded at a larger scale than the proposed demonstration. The applicants may propose to use technology developed by the Corps under Section 1109 of WRDA 2018 (i.e., the Freshwater Harmful Algal Bloom Research and Development Initiative) or viable technology with legal authority and ability to be permitted and applied under appropriate federal laws.

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